Organisers have said they would welcome any offer from the United Kingdom to step in as hosts of the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the withdrawal of the Australian state of Victoria on Tuesday left the event’s future in serious doubt.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said it was given only eight hours’ notice before the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, announced the state would no longer host the 2026 Games due to spiralling costs. The CGF described the decision as “hugely disappointing” but remains determined to find an alternative despite an immediate lack of obvious candidates.
The 2022 Games moved to Birmingham, the original 2026 hosts, when Durban in South Africa was stripped of its hosting rights in 2017 and another venue in the UK could be the only feasible replacement given the short timeframe.
Victoria’s decision leaves not only the 2026 Games but the entire future of the event in jeopardy, with it struggling to find its place in a crowded sporting calendar and with lingering questions about its foundation in Britain’s colonial past.
The CGF’s chief executive, Katie Sadleir, said: “The UK are fantastic hosts and we would be very open to having a conversation with them about it, if that’s something they would be interested in doing.”
However, the UK prime minister’s spokesperson insisted that it hoped a “viable solution” can be found for the Games to be held in Australia.
“This is a disappointing outcome for both fans and athletes,” Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson said. “We hope that the Victoria state government, the Games federation and Commonwealth Games Australia will now work together to find a viable solution to hosting the event in 2026.”
Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia have all held discussions in the past about hosting the 2026 Games but ruled themselves out after Victoria’s announcement, while the leaders of New South Wales and Queensland have also indicated they are not interested in taking over. Brisbane, in Queensland, is hosting the 2032 Summer Olympics.
Two Canadian cities – Hamilton and Calgary – have previously expressed an interest in hosting the 2030 centenary games although the former, which hosted the first event when it was known as the British Empire Games, has since accepted defeat after it was unable to secure government commitments to launch an official bid.
There had been speculation that Birmingham could host back-to-back Games before they were awarded to Victoria in April last year after a request from the CFG. The 2022 Games cost £778m that was split 75-25 between central government and Birmingham city council.
Asked if the government would encourage a home nation to step in to host the 2026 event, the prime minister’s spokesperson said: “We are getting slightly ahead of ourselves. In the first instance it’s for those bodies and groups I’ve just mentioned to have those discussions and see if a solution can be found. Obviously the UK has been honoured to host the Games twice in the past decade [Birmingham 2022 and Glasgow 2014] so we will see what comes out of those initial discussions.”
London – which has hosted the Games only once, in 1934 – could be another option given the existing venues that were built for the 2012 Olympics. However there could be issues over which venue is used for athletics, given that the London Stadium is now the permanent home to the Premier League club West Ham despite hosting next Sunday’s Diamond League meeting.
Cardiff considered a bid for the 2026 Games but withdrew its interest in July 2016 blaming the “current financial uncertainty” after the Brexit vote. The former hosts Kuala Lumpur (1998) and Edmonton (1978) also withdrew from the race citing financial concerns.
Initial forecasts had predicted it would cost Victoria $2.6bn to host the 2026 Games but Andrews said the decision was made after estimates reached $7bn.
That figure was questioned by the Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive, Craig Phillips, who said it was a “gross exaggeration” and that Victoria had “wilfully ignored” recommendations to use purpose-built venues in Melbourne in favour of pursuing expensive, temporary venues in the state’s provinces.
“Since awarding Victoria the Games, the government has made decisions to include more sports and an additional regional hub, and changed plans for venues, all of which have added considerable expense, often against the advice of the CGF and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA),” the CGF said in a statement.
“We are taking advice on the options available to us and remain committed to finding a solution for the Games in 2026 that is in the best interest of our athletes and the wider Commonwealth Sport Movement.”
Team England said it was “surprised and disappointed” by the news, saying it is “hugely unsettling” for athletes. “We will be working with partners to support and understand potential solutions for the future,” it added in a statement.
