Australia’s Victoria pulls out of hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games due to projected cost overruns

Melbourne. Australia’s Victoria state has pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to projected cost overruns. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday his government had agreed to host the multi-sport event last year “but not at any cost”. Andrews said his government had initially budgeted 2.6 billion Australian dollars (1.8 billion US dollars) to host the Games in five cities, but recent estimates put the potential cost at 7 billion Australian dollars (4.8 billion US dollars). 800 million US dollars).

Andrews told a news conference that he had informed Commonwealth Games organizers of his government’s decision to withdraw from the hosting contract. “Today is not about finding fault with those spending estimates,” Andrews said. Six to seven billion Australian dollars for a 12-day sporting event, we are not doing that – there is no point in spending this money, it is just expense and no benefit.” Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) issued a statement saying they are seeking advice on their options.

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The CGF said the increase in estimated costs was mainly due to the regional, multi-city host model and the Victorian Government’s decision to change the venue plan and include more sports. “We are disappointed that we were given only eight hours’ notice and no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find a solution before the government reaches this decision,” the CGF statement said. The 2026 Games were to be held from June 17 to 29 in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton.