Aussies react to the Gold Coast withdrawing its bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games

The withdrawal of the Gold Coast's bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games has sparked mixed reactions from Australians. Many say there is simply not enough interest in the sporting event anymore.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate confirmed on Sunday evening that the Queensland city would no longer pursue its $700 million bid to host a “streamlined” 2026 Games shared with Perth.

Victoria was due to host the Games, but former Premier Daniel Andrews announced in July that the event would not go ahead amid concerns that costs had risen from $2 billion to $7 billion.

“We did our best and that is all people can expect,” Tate said in a statement Sunday evening.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate confirmed on Sunday evening that the Queensland city will no longer pursue its $700 million bid to host a 'streamlined' Commonwealth Games in 2026, shared with Perth

'Unfortunately, our country's reputation as a country that relinquishes a global sports contract remains in tatters.

“In simple terms, it appears that the vision of our Games does not align with the vision of the state or federal governments.”

Many Australians have since dismissed the bid to host the event as a “waste of time”, while others say the Commonwealth Games are no longer capturing the interest of viewers as they used to.

'What a waste of time and money that was. Just to show that (Daniel) Andrews did the right thing in the first place,” one person wrote on social media.

'Am I the only one who doesn't care about the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games. Most sports have a world championship once every four years,” said another.

'The Commonwealth games are hot garbage. Nobody wants them. Nobody cares about them, it's Wish Dot Com Olympics,” one person wrote, comparing the event to the discounted online shopping site Wish.

“I doubt you can afford a city to host the Commonwealth Games at the moment,” said another.

'Well done, with the sport being mainly professional these days and there being so many events around the world, the Games simply don't have the appeal and recognition they once had. The Olympics brings together the best of the world every four years and will bring the crowds,” another posted.

Some Aussies said there just wasn't enough interest in the Commonwealth Games

One Australian said Labor was a “disgrace” not to support the Games

Many Aussies have since dismissed the bid to host the event as a 'waste of time'

Others have since called the failed bid 'a shame'.

“The proposal to host the Commonwealth Games in a joint initiative between WA and QLD has been rejected by the federal Labor government and both Labor governments. What a shame Labor is. I left Australia in tatters,” said one.

Mr Tate said he was overwhelmed by the support from locals, sports administrators, businesses and athletes “who all wanted the event to be saved”.

“We also had fantastic support from great Australians like Gina Reinhardt, Gerry Harvey and Katie Page, but we were unable to generate support from the state or federal governments,” he said.

'Our twin proposal with Perth would have saved Australia's tarnished reputation, injected billions into the national economy and given athletes and para-athletes a clear path to other international competitions, including the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and then to the 2032 Games in Queensland.'

Mr Tate will write to Commonwealth Games Federation president Chris Jenkins on Monday to inform him of the decision.

He said the city, which hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games, would move on and look for other major sporting and festival events.

When Mr Andrews announced his state would not host the event, he cited financial problems and said the money would be better spent on schools and hospitals.

Pictured is the Australian netball team winning gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham