Multi-City Plan Offers Way Out Of Commonwealth Games Crisis

By Hannah Blackwell

The Welsh government may have ruled out a rescue bid, but others are happy to discuss the possibility of a multinational, multi-venue solution to the Commonwealth Games crisis.

Downing Street says it hopes a “viable solution” can be found for the 2026 Games to be held in Australia, insisting the idea of the UK stepping in to host the event is “getting slightly ahead of ourselves”.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the state’s withdrawal on Tuesday, citing a substantial rise in predicted staging costs.

Other states then ruled out the possibility of hosting the Games, but Scotland and cities in England have suggested the answer could be in spreading the load and financial risk.

T38 100m champion @BreenOlivia says it’s a massive shock for Welsh athletes to see Victoria withdraw from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games ❌#BBCAthletics pic.twitter.com/p8BVNeihE2

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) July 18, 2023

The Welsh government said “budgetary constraints imposed by the UK government” meant it “could not consider” supporting the event.

“This is a disappointing outcome for both fans and athletes,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said.

“We hope that the Victoria state government, the Games federation and Commonwealth Games Australia will now work together to find a viable solution to hosting the event in 2026.”

It remains to be seen whether a UK city or region comes forward to offer itself as a replacement, as was the case when the global governing body, the Commonwealth Games Federation, stripped South African city Durban of the hosting rights for 2022 back in 2017.

Birmingham ultimately won the race to stage those Games, with the government announcing in 2019 that the event would cost £778 million ($1.5 billion) to stage in total, split 75-25 between central government and Birmingham City Council.

Asked if the government would encourage a home nation to step in to host the 2026 event, the spokesman said: “We are getting slightly ahead of ourselves.

“In the first instance it’s for those bodies and groups I’ve just mentioned to have those discussions and see if a solution can be found.

“Obviously the UK has been honoured to host the Games twice in the past decade (Birmingham 2022 and Glasgow 2014) so we will see what comes out of those initial discussions.”

🥇“The Commonwealth Games are the start for many, and the pinnacle for many.”

Chair of @TeamWales, Gareth Davies, explains why the Commonwealth Games mean so much to Welsh athletes.#BBCAthletics pic.twitter.com/QPmis8sJOT

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) July 18, 2023

The possibility was welcomed by Katie Sadleir, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

“The UK are fantastic hosts and we would be very open to having a conversation with them about it, if that’s something they would be interested in doing,” she said.

The national Commonwealth federations of England, Scotland and Wales expressed their disappointment at the news concerning Victoria.

Commonwealth Games England described the news as “hugely unsettling” for athletes.

When asked about encouraging a home nation to host the 2026 event, the government spokesperson advised against rushing into decisions.

“In the first instance it’s for those bodies and groups I’ve just mentioned to have those discussions and see if a solution can be found,” said the spokesperson.

“Obviously the UK has been honoured to host the Games twice in the past decade (Birmingham 2022 and Glasgow 2014) so we will see what comes out of those initial discussions.”

‘King Charles never really made himself popular in the Commonwealth… He has not been able to assert himself as a great Commonwealth leader!’

Tom Bower reacts to the Premier of the Australian State of Victoria, Daniel Andrews pulling out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. pic.twitter.com/S1X6wl5wSH

— GB News (@GBNEWS) July 18, 2023

Katie Sadleir, the chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, welcomed the possibility of Scotland being part of a multi-city, multi-country host.

“The UK are fantastic hosts and we would be very open to having a conversation with them about it, if that’s something they would be interested in doing,” she said.

Humza Yousaf expressed interest in exploring the possibility, while England, Scotland, and Wales’ national Commonwealth federations were disappointed by Victoria’s withdrawal, stating it was unsettling for athletes.

Could Scotland play a role in rescuing the 2026 Commonwealth Games?

Victoria in Australia has pulled out of hosting them

Speaking to @Finlay_Jack5 – @HumzaYousaf reveals Scotland will explore being part of a multi-city, multi-country hosting opportunity, but warns about costs pic.twitter.com/61siYJ469C

— Radio Clyde News (@RadioClydeNews) July 18, 2023