As three other candidates emerge for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Australia has three months to find a host for the multi-sport event. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) hierarchy emphasized that finding an Australian host remains the priority and appealed for government support. Chris Jenkins from Wales was elected president at the CGF’s general assembly in Singapore. Jenkins has taken the top seat amid the crisis of the host-less 2026 Games after the Victorian government pulled out in July due to cost blowouts.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate has offered to step in for an estimated $700 million cost, but Queensland’s government has ruled out support. CGF chief executive Katie Sadleir revealed that three other regions have emerged as potential candidates to host a Games in 2026 or 2027. Sadleir stated that a decision was likely in February, and postponing the Games until 2027 was on the table. The Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive also briefed nations at the Singapore general assembly, stating that other Commonwealth nations want Australia to host the next Games.
Sadleir said the Games will go on in some form, while seeking potential hosts to talk about making this possible. This decision comes after Victoria’s government withdrew as host, citing a forecast rise in costs from between $2 billion and $3 billion to between $6 billion and $7 billion, figures contested by Games hierarchy. This follows the success of the Birmingham 2022 and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, which had significantly lower costs than the proposed costs in Victoria.