Australia's Gold Coast region is ready to step in as a replacement destination for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, its mayor has said.
Fellow Australian state Victoria had been due to stage the quadrennial multi-sport event in three years’ time, but officially pulled out on July 18, with Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews blaming a huge increase in the projected cost of staging the games.
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Now, Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate has told media that the city would be willing to move in as host, having already staged the 2018 edition.
He said: “The facility and the legacy facilities that we've had here are maintained to the highest level.
"It's easier to say no when you don't have the facts because then you expose yourself to many things, but I've got more of the facts than most because I was the host of the 2018 games.
“I know the budget and I know it can be done.”
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By GlobalDataGold Coast is in Queensland, with that state’s capital, Brisbane, set to host the 2032 Olympic Games.
Announcing the decision for Victoria to withdraw as host, Andrews said initial cost estimates last year – the hosting decision was confirmed in April 2022 – had put the cost of the games at AUD2.6 billion ($1.77 billion), but new estimates suggested it would be closer to AUD7 billion.
He said: “Today is not about finding fault with those cost estimates. I’ve made a lot of difficult calls, and a lot of difficult decisions, in this job. This is not one of them.
“Frankly, six to seven billion for a 12-day sporting event. We are not doing that. That does not represent value for money. That is all cost and no benefit.
“In terms of where we go from here, the games will not proceed in Victoria in 2026.”
The idea of Gold Coast putting on the Commonwealth Games has been backed by the Athletics Australia body.
In a statement, Athletics Australia said: “As witnessed in 2018, the Gold Coast demonstrated its remarkable ability to host a Games of exceptional quality and one that left a profound impact on Australian sport.
“With an opportunity to make an impact on athletes aiming for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we firmly believe that the city is in a unique position to step forward and preserve the spirit of the Commonwealth Games.”
Australia has hosted five of the previous 22 editions of the Commonwealth Games and is by far the event’s most successful nation.
A spokesperson for the Commonwealth Games Federation said yesterday (July 20) that the body had “not even begun” to consider any alternative 2026 hosting options yet.
They added: "We are currently focused on our legal options and a responsible settlement to the contract [with Victoria].”
"We have been inspired by the huge support from around the world and it is great to see the enthusiasm that is being expressed for the Games.”
In direct response to the Victorian withdrawal earlier this week, the CGF had said: “We are disappointed that we were only given eight hours’ notice and that no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find solutions prior to this decision being reached by the government.”
The 2022 Commonwealth Games took place in Birmingham, UK – that was another instance of a replacement destination being used after Durban in South Africa was originally allocated hosting rights before having to step down.
Yesterday, a spokesperson for Sadiq Khan, mayor of the UK capital London, said that the city “stands ready to support if required.
“The mayor stands ready to support a submission for 2026 and future global events."
Any bid, however, would need the support of the UK government.
Image: Albert Perez/Getty Images
