Commonwealth Games In Limbo As Australia Pulls Out As 2026 Host
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published July 18, 2023 | 09:40 AM
Melbourne, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jul, 2023 ) :The Australian state of Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Tuesday citing major cost blow-outs, leaving organisers fuming as they scrambled to keep the multi-sport event afloat.
State Premier Daniel Andrews said the initial estimated Aus$2 billion (US$1.36 billion) needed to hold the Games would more likely be around Aus$7 billion, which he called "well and truly too much".
"I've made a lot of difficult calls, a lot of very difficult decisions in this job. This is not one of them. Frankly, $7 billion for a sporting event, we are not doing that," he said at a press conference in Melbourne.
"I will not take money out of hospitals and schools to host an event that is three times the cost estimated and budgeted for last year.
"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 event -- featuring 20 sports and 26 disciplines -- was due to be held across five regional hubs in the state, including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Gippsland and Shepparton, with each having its own athletes' village.
Andrews said his team had looked at cutting the number of hubs or even moving the Games to the Victoria state capital Melbourne, but "none of those options stack up".
Instead, he announced a Aus$2 billion support package for regional Victoria.
Andrews refused to say how much it was costing to terminate the agreement, but insisted talks with the Commonwealth Games Federation were amicable.
But the Federation was not happy, blasting the move as "hugely disappointing".
"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," it said in a statement.
- Solution - Victoria was only awarded the contract 14 months ago as the exclusive bidder, with the Federation claiming the state had since decided to include more sports, added an additional regional hub, and changed plans for venues.
This additional expense was "often against the advice of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia", it said, adding that it had received assurances that "sufficient funding was available to deliver the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games".
The decision to pull out leaves the fate of the Games up in the air, with fewer and fewer countries showing interest in recent times to take on a spectacle seen as losing its relevance.
The Federation insisted it remained "committed to finding a solution for the Games in 2026 that is in the best interest of our athletes and the wider Commonwealth Sport Movement".
The event typically attracts more than 4,000 athletes from the 54 nations of the Commonwealth, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire.
The last Games, in 2022, were held in England after Birmingham stepped in late in the piece.
In a letter to staff cited by the Herald Sun newspaper, Commonwealth Games Australia president Ben Houston said he was only told about the decision on Tuesday morning.
He also called it "extremely disappointing", adding: "We are working with the Commonwealth Games Federation to understand the broad impacts on the Games in 2026."The Victorian state opposition called Andrews' decision a "massive humiliation" and "hugely damaging to Victoria's reputation as a global events leader".
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Nadia Khan reveals decade-long struggle in first marriage
Punjab CM orders to supply of clean drinking water to public
Pakistan expected playing XI against Ireland in third T20I match
SC directs Punjab govt to make arrangements for Imran Khan’s appearance via vi ..
Awam Express meets Tractor-Trolley near Raiwind
Ishaq Dar, Liu Jianchao discuss longstanding cooperation b/w Pakistan, China
Journalist Safety Training Workshop Commences at FCCU
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 14 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 14 May 2024
Avicenna Medical College unveils facts behind ‘staged protest’
Germany eyes huge party as it hosts Euro 2024 amid global turmoil
Khawaja Asif foresees economic stability ahead.
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Japanese singer performed Pakistani, Japanese, English songs at NAPA
2 days ago -
Conducive environment for investors to stimulate sustainable growth
2 days ago -
Initiatives urged to facilitate people in getting access to quality healthcare services
2 days ago -
Hunza-The sleeping beauty
2 days ago -
Collective efforts vital to eradicate drugs addiction
4 days ago -
Concerted efforts urged to ease traffic flow on city roads
9 days ago
-
Land degradation: A threat to food security
9 days ago -
Revamping health sector, a gigantic task ahead
9 days ago -
American band promotes intercultural harmony thru music fusions
10 days ago -
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
11 days ago -
Experts for ending child labour
13 days ago -
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
13 days ago