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WorldChaos at Commonwealth Games after host leaves over a $3.6bn bill

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Chaos at Commonwealth Games after host leaves over a $3.6bn bill

As the host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Australian state of Victoria has withdrawn, raising doubts over whether the event will still take place.

In making his decision, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews noted the event’s soaring costs, noting that the original estimate of $2.6 billion (£1 billion) had grown to $7 billion (£3.6 billion).

The Commonweath Games Federation (CGF) called his comments “hugely disappointing,” and one official called the premier’s numbers “gross exaggerations.”

The organisation claimed it had received only eight hours’ notice of the cancellation and said it was committed to finding an alternative host for the event.

Labor politician Mr Andrews said: ‘What’s become clear is that the cost of hosting these games in 2026 is not the $2.6bn which was budgeted and allocated.

‘It is in fact at least $6bn and could be as high as $7bn, and I cannot stand here and say to you that I have any confidence that even [the] $7bn number would appropriately and adequately fund these games.’

Australian Prime Minister and Labor leader Anthony Albanese told reporters the decision was ‘made by the Victorian government’, and hailed the country’s ‘fine record of hosting events’ when asked if he was embarrassed about the situation.

However, the announcement was met with almost universal condemnation by the heads of Australian sporting bodies.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Eddie Ockenden and Rachael Grinham, Flag Bearers of Team Australia lead their team out during the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Alexander Stadium on July 28, 2022 on the Birmingham, England. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Australia came top of the medal table at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (Picture: David Ramos/Getty Images)

Kieren Perkins, a four-time Olympic medallist in swimming and chief executive of the Australian Sports Commission, said the day had been a ‘difficult’ one.

He added: ‘For many of our athletes, coaches and support staff, Victoria 2026 was going to be an important stepping stone ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and for others it was to be the pinnacle of their careers.’

On the prospect of finding a new host, he said: ‘To be able to put it together is going to be quite a significant task, and I think this is going to be a very big test for the Commonwealth Games Federation.’

Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips said: ‘I would be very careful if I was an international sporting body coming and doing business in this state in the future.’

He continued: ‘The stated costs overrun, in our opinion, are a gross exaggeration and not reflective of the operational costs presented to the Victoria 2026 Organising Committee board as recently as June.’

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media during a press conference at Mars Stadium in Ballarat, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Victoria has officially been announced as the host for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. (AAP Image/Con Chronis) NO ARCHIVING
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the money that was going to be spent on the Games would go towards regional housing and sporting infrastructure instead (Picture: AAPIMAGE)

The CGF, meanwhile, argued that the increase in expense was not its responsibility.

In a statement, it said: ‘Since awarding Victoria the Games, the government has made decisions to include more sports and an additional regional hub, and changed plans for venues, all of which have added considerable expense, often against the advice of the CGF and Commonwealth Games Australia.’

The competition was last held in Australia when Gold Coast hosted in 2018.

Cities around the country will hold games for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will begin on Thursday, and Brisbane is set to host the Olympic Games in 2032.

Brisbane chief executive Cindy Hook told ABC News she was confident those Games would go ahead as planned.

She said: ‘I’m absolutely focused on the budget, the organising committee will be self funding and we have a long run way and more time than they did to plan, and I think that time if used well, will be very much to our advantage and I’m confident in our model.’

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