London Offers Potential Commonwealth Games Lifeline

By Hannah Blackwell

Welsh athletes dismayed at the turmoil over the 2026 Commonwealth Games have been offered a potential lifeline – from London.

Conservative Mayor of London candidate Susan Hall has thrown her support behind London hosting the next edition of the Games after the Gold Coast in Australia dropped the only bid for the event in four years’ time.

The state of Victoria, also Down Under, withdrew as hosts in July and there has not since been a replacement.

Looks like only hope for 2026 is London or another UK city stepping in to host.

But even if that were to happen, an even only being held by the UK is no longer sustainable. Wouldnt be surprised soon if time is called on the Commonwealth Games https://t.co/Vw42UfFuMx

— Richard David Pike (@RichDPike89) December 4, 2023

But Hall, Conservative mayoral candidate and member of the Greater London Authority at City Hall, has insisted that London would stand ready should she become mayor of the capital after next year’s election.

“London should be an exciting, thriving city and we must do more to bring the world’s best sporting events here,” Hall told City A.M. when asked if the 2026 and 2030 Games would be on her agenda.

“I fully support London bidding to host the Commonwealth Games and as Mayor, I would do everything I can to support it.”

The withdrawal of Gold Coast as host means the games may be delayed until 2027.

The future of the Games more broadly remains up in the air, with Canada’s Alberta province also withdrawing its support for a bid for the 2030 event.

https://twitter.com/CraigTilley95/status/1731598140325663050?s=20

Australia’s Commonwealth Games boss Craig Phillips said in September the 2026 Games could be pushed back a year to allow another Australian host time to step in.

However, on Monday he said it was more likely they would end up outside Australia.

“The people we spoke to in the Commonwealth Games family, I believe that the sentiment is very much still that the first priority is there is a solution here in Australia,” he told Australian Associated Press.

“But if that doesn’t materialise, then other options are certainly very much on the table.”

Birmingham successfully staged the last Commonwealth Games, in 2022, after South African city Durban pulled out of hosting the event.

ANALYSIS: With no host in place for 2026, we may have seen the last of the Commonwealth Games as we know it. But could it be kept alive for the athletes of tomorrow? https://t.co/snye89TgaF

— ABC News (@abcnews) December 5, 2023

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan previously said that London “stands ready” to host the event with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Richard Burge stating: “London would be the ideal city to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“From Lord’s to Wimbledon, we have pulled off some of the most iconic sports events in history and we are proficient in dealing with huge crowds while delivering value for money and, most importantly, safety for the athletes and spectators.

“With the mayor committed to London being net zero by 2030, these could be the greenest games in Commonwealth history… for 2026 there is only one choice – London.”