The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria has been scrapped. Victorian premier Daniel Andrews made the shock announcement at a media conference on Tuesday morning. The rights to host the 2026 event were awarded to regional Victoria last year after Birmingham replaced South Africa’s Durban as host of the 2022 games.This is Victroian premier Dan Andrew’s full press conference announcing the news.
But on Tuesday Premier Daniel Andrews announced his government would no longer support the games because it was clear the cost would exceed $6 billion.
Victoria Abruptly Cancels Hosting of 2026 Commonwealth Games
Melbourne, July 18, 2023 – In a shocking turn of events, the Australian state of Victoria has announced it will not be hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The decision, described as ‘absolutely disappointing’ by the head of Commonwealth Games Australia, has sent shockwaves through the sporting world.
The unexpected cancellation comes just a year after Victoria had won the bid to host the event in 2022, beating several other competitors. Citing financial reasons for the withdrawal, the State Premier Daniel Andrews expressed that the cost of hosting the games had become untenable.
“The projected cost has now tripled and become well and truly too much for the state to bear,” Andrews stated during the announcement. “Our utmost responsibility is towards our citizens, and we can’t justify such an expenditure in the current economic climate.”
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) had initially struggled to find a host before Victoria volunteered in April 2022. The CGF called the decision ‘hugely disappointing’ and is now committed to finding a new host for the 2026 Games.
This sudden cancellation has raised questions about the future viability of the Commonwealth Games, especially given the challenges of the ongoing global pandemic and the financial burden on host countries. It also raises concerns about potential impacts on athletes who were preparing for the event.
While the search begins for a new host, there’s no doubt that this decision marks a significant setback for the Commonwealth Games and leaves a big question mark over its future.
In the meantime, all eyes will be on the CGF and their next steps to ensure the continuity of the Games. Whether another city or country will step up to host the event remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the 2026 Commonwealth Games are facing an uncertain future.
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