The Commonwealth Games 2026 is under major threat as the Australian state of Victoria, which was set to host the games, has officially pulled out. The decision was taken after rising costs in regard to hosting the event. The Commonwealth Games Federation, meanwhile, will now hunt for a new host with less than 3 years to go for the quadrennial games.
Premier of the Victoria state, Daniel Andrews, announced on Tuesday that his country’s government has decided not to bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to an enormous rise in the estimated cost of holding the multisport competition. While the initial budget was set at 2.6 billion Australian dollars ($1.8 billion), the costs rose to almost thrice to 7 billion Australian dollars ($4.8 billion).
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“What’s become clear is that the cost of hosting these Games in 2026 is not the $2.6 billion which was budgeted,” Andrews said in a press conference.
“It is, in fact, at least $6 billion, and could be as high as $7 billion. I will not take money out of hospitals and schools in order to fund an event that is three times the cost [which] was estimated and budgeted for last year. In terms of where we go from here, the Games will not proceed in Victoria in 2026,” he added.
Commonwealth Games Federation left in lurch
The Commonwealth Games Federation meanwhile is left in a lurch. In its response, the Federation hit out at the government for not seeking solutions and giving only an eight-hour notice. The CGF is now taking advice on its options for finding a solution for the event in 2026.
According to the CGF, the regional and multi-city host model led to rising costs. Furthermore, the Victoria government’s decision to alter venue designs also played a part. The government’s decision to add new sports was also one of the key causes of the expected cost increase.
“This is hugely disappointing for the Commonwealth Sports Movement, for athletes around the Commonwealth and for the Organising Committee who are well advanced in their planning and preparation. We are disappointed that we were only given eight hours’ notice and that no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find solutions prior to this decision being reached by the Government, ” said CGF in a statement.
The regional centres of Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland, and Shepparton were slated to host the 2026 Games from March 17–29.
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