- Gina Rinehart is backing a bold new bid for the Commonwealth Games
- Her plan is for Perth and the Gold Coast to co-host
- She has written a letter to Anthony Albanese in support of her plan
Gina Rinehart has thrown her support behind a bold campaign to save the Commonwealth Games and ‘restore Australia’s reputation’ after Victoria ditched the event this year.
The mayors of the Gold Coast and Perth are launching a coast-to-coast bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games after being brought together by the mining magnate.
Former Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews withdrew his state’s bid for the stake, citing cost considerations, but the two mayors and Rinehart have now written to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asking for his support for the new idea .
While there is the obvious hurdle that the two cities are more than 4000km apart, The Australian reports that the initial plan is to host half of the sports in the first week, including aquatics on the Gold Coast, and ten of other sports, including athletics. , in Perth for the following week.
Perth has emerged as a co-hosting option after the Queensland government ruled out a $700 million Commonwealth Games for the Gold Coast alone as preparations for the 2032 Olympics were underway.
Gina Rinehart has backed a bold new bid for the Commonwealth Games
The Gold Coast and Perth are interested in co-hosting the 2026 Games
Rinehart is a patron of swimming, rowing, artistic swimming and volleyball, and is keen to see the event hosted on Australian soil.
The mining magnate and the two mayors claim the Games would bring sporting, diplomatic and political benefits to Australia.
The letter reads: ‘We believe that a Coast-to-Coast Games provides a special opportunity to showcase Australia and provides an excellent backdrop for inviting Commonwealth Heads with whom you may wish to engage in further discussions and/or entertain.
‘A backdrop where Australia punches way above its weight and shines!’
The two cities would use existing facilities to host the games. The letter also took a swipe at the Victorian government’s decision to withdraw from hosting duties.
The three figures argued that hosting the Games would promote enthusiasm and community spirit, which is “very important following the Victorian government’s unpopular decision (to cancel the Games).
“The Victorian Government’s decision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games was disappointing and a huge blow to Australia’s reputation and to our athletes.
Rinehart has co-signed a letter to Anthony Albanese asking for his support
“Australia is meant to be seen as a successful G20 country, and the fact that we cannot organize and finance the Commonwealth Games undermines that reputation.
“We believe that rescuing the Commonwealth Games through a two-city approach would be popular and in the national interest, delivering not only enormous benefits for our athletes and cities, but also excitement and lasting benefits for our nation.”
The trio also argued that a coast-to-coast Commonwealth Games would be cheaper than investing $600 million in a new NRL team from Papua New Guinea.
It will be decided early next year whether the Games will be moved from 2026 to 2027.