Australia’s state of Victoria not to host 2026 Commonwealth Games

Australia’s state of Victoria will not be hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to projected exceeding expenditures. This has raised doubts on the multi-sport event that takes place every four years. Victoria state Premier Dan Andrews has said the cost of the Games, that were to have been held in four regional hubs, was going more than twice the estimated economic benefit the Games would bring to the state. He said that more than 6 billion dollars for a 12-day sporting event is just too high.

The Victoria Premier said, the main reason they agreed to host the Games was to create a big lasting benefit for the regions with more housing, boosts to tourism and sporting infrastructure upgrades. He further said instead of spending on hosting the games, other projects like building 1300 new social and affordable housing homes in regional Victoria will be built. The government will also build permanent sporting facilities that were promised for 2026. He said, these projects will create around 3,000 jobs right around the state, and deliver what regional communities have asked for.