Victoria, Australia, July 18: The state government of Victoria in Australia has announced the cancellation of plans to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, citing the projected costs exceeding 6 billion Australian dollars (4 billion US dollars).
According to reports from Xinhua, the Victoria government conveyed its decision to terminate the Host Agreement to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Commonwealth Games Australia.
In a statement, the state government highlighted that the primary objective of hosting the Games was to deliver lasting benefits in housing, tourism, and sporting infrastructure for regional Victoria.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews expressed his concerns on social media, emphasizing that allocating over 6 billion Australian dollars for a 12-day sporting event was deemed prohibitively high. He noted that the projected costs were more than twice the estimated economic benefit the Games would bring to the state.
In lieu of hosting the Commonwealth Games, the Victoria government now plans to direct its resources toward a comprehensive 2 billion Australian dollars (1.4 billion US dollars) package aimed at the development of regional Victoria. This package will focus on addressing the needs of the local population, providing increased places to live and stay across regional Victoria, in response to the priorities expressed by the residents.
The decision to cancel the hosting of the Commonwealth Games underscores the government’s commitment to prudent financial management while ensuring the sustainable growth and prosperity of the region.
