The 2026 edition of the Commonwealth Games, held every four years among countries and territories that were mostly former UK possessions, won’t be held in a major city for the first time.
A number of regional cities in the Australian state of Victoria will instead host the event following a lack of interest from the 54-member grouping over the cost of the event.
Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrews said the state was in “exclusive” negotiations with the Commonwealth Games Federation over hosting the Games.
The cities of Ballarat and Bendigo, both with a population of about 100,000, will host events in an effort to boost the economies of rural areas. The state also plans to hold a cultural festival alongside the games.
However, Tasmania’s premier, Peter Gutwein, said he would launch a counter bid for Hobart, population 200,000, and Launceston, population 110,000.
Gutwein said he has written to the chief executive of Commonwealth Games Australia, Craig Phillips, formally requesting that Tasmania be given consideration as a host for the event.
The other Asia-Pacific countries that compete are Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Kiribati, Malaysia, Maldives, Nauru, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The Cook Islands and Niue, both New Zealand dependencies, as well as Australia’s Norfolk Island, send separate teams.
Celebrating Centenary
The Commonwealth Games celebrates its centenary in 2030. Australia, India, New Zealand, Canada, England and South Africa are among the usual medal heavyweights.
Birmingham is hosting the games this year after plans to stage it in Durban in South Africa fell through. Melbourne, Victoria’s capital, hosted the Games in 2006.
This year’s Games will cost at least £778 million ($1.05 billion) with three-quarters of the public funding for the 11-day event will come from the UK’s coffers, with £184 million having to be found by Birmingham City Council.
The budget is above initial estimates of £750 million, but lower than the A$1.8 billion ($1.3 billion) spent on the 2018 Gold Coast Games in Australia.
Andrews, the Victorian premier, said the state would hold talks with the Commonwealth Games body to determine the costs and benefits of the event.
He said that the Games would add to the state’s sporting reputation. Melbourne hosts the Australian Open tennis and a Formula One grand prix.
- George Russell
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