Victoria pulls out of hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games, state Premier Daniel Andrews says 'will not take money out of hospitals and schools'

Australia have pulled out from staging the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

SportsTak

• Tue • 18 Jul 2023

Australia have pulled out from staging the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The tournament which was slated to be held in the state of Victoria will now be shifted to another location. Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews on July 18 (Tuesday) confirmed his government's decision to no host the 2023 Commonwealth Games because of the steep increase in cost likely to be incurred while staging the competition.

Andrews also revealed the massive amount that Victoria would have to splash in order to stage the quadrennial competition. Earlier, the estimated figure was 2.6 billion Australian dollars but Andrews stated that the cost would shoot up drastically to somewhere around 7 billion Australian dollars.

"What’s become clear is that the cost of hosting these Games in 2026 is not the $2.6 billion which was budgeted," Andrews said in a press conference.

"It is, in fact, at least $6 billion, and could be as high as $7 billion.

"I will not take money out of hospitals and schools in order to fund an event that is three times the cost [which] was estimated and budgeted for last year. In terms of where we go to from here, the Games will not proceed in Victoria in 2026. We have informed Commonwealth Games authorities of our decision to seek to terminate the contract," he added.

The 13-day sporting spectacle was scheduled to be held between March 17-March 29 in 2026 across five cities - Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton - of Victoria.

The Commonwealth Games Federation reacted to the decision taken by the Victoria state premier and voiced disappointment through a statement.

"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 federation said in a statement.