Australia's Victoria state has withdrawn as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, its state chief citing the rising budget as the reason. Victoria premier Daniel Andrews said his government initially earmarked AU$2.6 billion (Rs 14,760cr) to stage the 23rd edition of the quadrennial Games in five cities, but as per the recent estimates, the cost has gone up to Au$7bn (Rs 39,360cr).
For the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), Victoria's withdrawal poses the immediate headache of finding a new host. In a larger sense, it is also confronted by the rising debate over keeping the relevance of the colonial games alive with many arguing that the idea of the Commonwealth itself is outdated at present.
Multi-city, multi-country editions likely in future
This is not the first time a CWG host has found itself not hosting the event: South Africa, who had bid to host the 2022 CWG, was stripped of the hosting rights in 2017 after missing many important deadlines and failing to win Commonwealth Games Federation's confidence. Birmingham was roped in as the new host.
"Victoria backing out is hugely disappointing not just for the Commonwealth Sport Movement, but for aspiring athletes around the Commonwealth," Katie Sadleir, CGF CEO, told TOI on Tuesday.
Melbourne, Victoria's capital, had hosted the 2006 CWG and Olympics in 1956. With 72 nations in the Commonwealth, mostly underdeveloped or developing countries, finding takers for the future editions is not going to be easy for the federation that is governed by the British royal family.
Sadleir refuted Victoria chief Daniel Andrews' claim that the Games couldn't be hosted in the initially estimated budget of $2.6 billion. "The numbers quoted to us on 17 July of AUD $6 billion are 50% more than those advised to the Organising Committee board at its meeting in June," she said.
"Given that past Games have been delivered successfully for AUD $1. 3 billion (£668. 7million pound) in Birmingham, and AUD $1. 7 billion (£917 million pound) in the Gold Coast, we are confident that the Victoria Government could have delivered a successful Games for their initially budgeted AUD $2. 6 billion," she countered.
The 22 previous editions of the CWG have been hosted by only seven nations, if the United Kingdom is taken as one. The UK (England, Wales, Scotland) hosted it eight times, while Australia, Canada and New Zealand five, four and three times each. India, Malaysia and Jamaica hosted the quadrennial games once.
When asked if finding a future host will be of concern for the CGF, Sadleir replied in negative: "Absolutely not!"
Competing with the Olympics, continental games and World championships of various sport, it is a tough task for the CGF to stay relevant in today's times, where hosting a sporting event no longer spells investment. It is more of costs and less of returns. However, Sadleir said the federation is open to allowing multiple countries as host of the CWG, as in becoming the norm at other events. "We are continually striving to adapt and evolve to ensure that we continue to maintain our relevance and prestige across the Commonwealth," she said.
"Our strategic plan already provides potential future hosts and sports with new flexibility to be innovative and creative in delivering the CWG, which we believe will make the Games more accessible to more hosts, including opening up the potential for multi-city and multi-country proposals," she added.
