Shock development as city ‘agrees to host Commonwealth Games’ after Aussie scandal threatened the event’s future
- Victoria jeopardizes event’s future with surprise move
- In July 2023, it withdrew from hosting the 2026 Games
According to reports, the Scottish city of Glasgow, which is set to host the event, has found a home for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This comes a year after the Australian sporting capital made the shock decision to pull out of its hosting duties.
Melbourne was set to be the centre of the spectacle until then-Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews stunned sports fans by announcing in July last year that the state would sever its hosting agreement.
Andrews made the decision due to concerns about the state’s finances and the enormous costs that would entail in hosting the Games.
The surprise move raised concerns over the future of the event, as other potential hosts, including Malasyia, refused to step in and fill the void.
What made matters worse was that Victoria had secured the rights when none of the 70 Commonwealth Games Federation nations seized the opportunity.
However, according to a veteran Games reporter, the event is now on the verge of returning after a shocking event on Monday.
“I hear good news for the Commonwealth Games,” tweeted respected sports journalist Duncan Mackay.
‘Several people told me during the @olympics at @paris2024 that @thecgf [Commonwealth Games Federation] have reached an agreement with Scotland for Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The future of the Commonwealth Games (2022 gold medallist Jessica Stenson, pictured) was in a bleak mood after Victoria’s shock decision not to host the 2026 event
Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) dropped the bombshell in July last year when his government became antsy over the cost of hosting the Games.
“An announcement is expected to come shortly after the Olympics, perhaps even this week.”
When a commentator asked Mackay how the event would be funded, he replied: ‘A large part of the money comes from the compensation Victoria paid after the withdrawal.’
Shortly after Victoria’s withdrawal, it was reported that state taxpayers could face a bill of more than $1 billion if they pulled out at such short notice.
Queensland’s Gold Coast hosted the Games in 2018 but decided not to intervene when the event was refused a place to host.
Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips was highly critical of the Andrews government and current Premier Jacinta Allan in May this year.
It has now been reported that the Scottish city of Glasgow (pictured) has taken up the baton and will host the event, after several other potential venues declined to step in.
“The Andrews-Allan Government’s decision not to host the 2026 Games placed enormous pressure on the brand of the Commonwealth sporting movement,” he said.
‘At times it even seemed that the then Prime Minister Andrews, for his own political interests, was trying to discredit the brand among the Australian public.
‘CGA is confident that the Commonwealth Games, and in particular our team, continues to be highly loved and respected by Australians.’
Ben Houston, the chairman of Commonwealth Games Australia, said the decision to cancel the Games “calls into question Australia’s integrity to deliver world-class events”.