Malaysia offered £100m to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 after Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year because of spiralling costs
Malaysia has been awarded £100 million to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games Federation has been looking for new hosts since the Australian state of Victoria pulled out last year due to rising costs.
In a desperate bid to prevent the Games being canceled for the first time since World War II, the CGF told Malaysia’s host countries in 1998 that they will help pay for the staging of the event if they agree to bear the burden of organizing to take on it. .
The Olympic Council of Malaysia announced in a statement on Monday: “The CGF has offered Malaysia the opportunity to replace Victoria as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
‘The offer includes a significant financial investment of £100 million to support local delivery and legacy planning for the 2026 edition.’
Malaysia has been awarded £100 million to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games Federation (president Chris Jenkins pictured) is looking for a new host
Commonwealth Games Malaysia Chairman Mohamad Norza Zakaria added: “CGA Malaysia believes that the Government of Malaysia should consider this unique opportunity, which will build on the success of Kuala Lumpur 1998 and reinvigorate Malaysia . back on the sports world map.
‘With its existing world-class facilities, Malaysia is well equipped to host an international event of Commonwealth scale, involving 74 Commonwealth countries and territories.
“Hosting will entail minimal government expenditure and deliver significant socio-economic benefits to the country.
“It will also raise the standard of Malaysian sports, just as it did in the aftermath of the 1998 Games. To this end, the CGF and CGA Malaysia have made an attractive proposal to the government of Malaysia.”
Britain has ruled itself out as the 2026 host nation after hosting the last Games in Birmingham in 2022.
The CGF must also find a host for 2030 after the Canadian province of Alberta withdrew its bid last summer.
A spokesperson for the CGF said: ‘The CGF is in advanced, confidential discussions with potential hosts to secure a solution for the 2026 Games that inspires athletes and helps transform the Games into a truly sustainable model.
“These discussions follow our announcement to members at our General Meeting last November that £100 million in financial and strategic support would be made available from Victoria’s Withdrawal Scheme.
The Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host last year due to rising costs
“Malaysia has a fantastic record of hosting sporting events and the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur were hugely successful.
“We are encouraged by their early concepts to build on this legacy using many of the same world-class facilities.
‘We welcome innovative proposals and have positive conversations with potential hosts.
“We are committed to providing an update on the expedited process as soon as possible and providing more clarity to our stakeholders and athletes.”