Gold Coast is ready to step in as the host for the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2026. This comes after Australian state of Victoria pulled out as hosts of the quadrennial event, due to projected cost overruns. Gold Coast had already hosted the event back in 2018.
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Gold Coast is in the Australian state of Queensland, which is already preparing to host the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Tom Tate, the mayor of Gold Coast told Australian media that the city has the infrastructure in place to put the event on.
“The facility and the legacy facilities that we’ve had here are maintained to the highest level,” he said. “It is easier to say no when you don’t have the facts because then you expose yourself to many thungs. But I’ve got more of the facts than most because I was the host of the 2018 Games,” he added.
“I know the budget and I know it can be done.” He stressed that the government of Queensland would need to step in with additional funding but added, “we have all the boxed ticked for them to say yes easily.”
Why did Victoria pull out of hosting the Commonwealth Games?
Victoria withdrew from hosting the event after citing a steep rise in projected expenditure to host the Games. Victoria Premier Dan Andrews said the cost of the Games could blow out to more than A$7 billion ($4.78 billion) from a budgeted A$2.6 billion if they went ahead.
“I cannot stand here and say that I have any confidence that even that Aus $7 billion would adequately and appropriately fund these Games. I think it could be more than that. Aus $7 billion is well and truly too much for a 12-day sporting event,” Andrews said.
With three more years left, Victoria’s pull out was a huge blow to the Commonwealth Games Federation. Gold Coast’s willingness to host the Games might come as a sight of relief for the Federation.
Victoria had volunteered to host the 2026 edition only in April 2022. Birmingham was tipped to host the 2026 Games. However the city replaced Durban as the host of the 2022 edition.
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