An American social media user has sparked debate after calling the Commonwealth Games a 'fake Olympics' and accusing the UK of 'gatekeeping' the event from the United States.
Video goes viral
Mason Powell, under the account @hcgscports, posted a TikTok video on July 28 that has garnered more than 45,100 views. In the caption, he wrote: 'Justice for the Americans.'
In the clip, Powell claimed that the Commonwealth Games include 'every single country that has been colonised by the British at some point in their history' but that the United States, a former colony, is left out. He argued that the US would 'dominate' the competition and that the British are 'gatekeeping' to prevent that.
Commonwealth Games context
Glasgow is hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which began on July 23 and run until August 2. The event features a reduced format with athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories competing over 11 days.
Powell said: 'Well everyone knows that the United States has won the most Olympic medals and I think the British knows that if they were to invite the Americans to their Commonwealth Games - their fake Olympics - well the US would dominate and they can't have that.'
Viewers respond
Commenters swiftly corrected Powell's assumptions. One wrote: 'The Commonwealth (officially the Commonwealth of Nations) is a voluntary group of 56 independent countries... So basically we are just all besties and the US aren’t invited.'
Another added: 'A quick Google search would’ve told you that the USA doesn’t participate cause they’ve never been a Commonwealth country, and that Australia leads the all time medal table, not any British nation…'
A third viewer questioned whether the video was a skit, while another simply stated: 'Well Mr America are you part of the Commonwealth? That’s a no then so there’s your answer.'
