Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games

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• Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips described the decision as “beyond disappointing”.
• The government said existing funding set aside for the games will remain invested in regional projects intended to create an event “legacy”.
• Aside from the viability of the 2026 event, Victoria pulling out of hosting the event raises the broader question of whether the Commonwealth Games will survive.

How has this happened?

• Victoria secured the Commonwealth Games in April 2022 with a unique multi-region model that sought to bring the event to regional Victoria.
• Victoria is Australia’s sporting state, and, if awarded the 2026 Commonwealth Games would demonstrate to the world a new way to deliver the competition.
• Andrews made clear the decision to withdraw was entirely financial, stating that the new estimated cost of potentially over $7 billion “does not represent value for money”.
• The Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia dispute these costs estimates.

The implications

• This includes pre-existing costs related to staffing contracts, renting premises and marketing, as well as to-be-determined contractual break costs as negotiated with the Commonwealth Games Federation.
• The financial costs of the withdrawal, however, may pale against the longer-term reputational damage done to Victoria and perhaps Australia more broadly.

Is Victoria still Australia’s ‘sporting capital’?

• The state has developed an unparalleled portfolio of major sport events since the 1980s, and become a global exemplar in executing major events in the process.
• Its ranking also recognises that the FIFA Women’s World Cup is being played predominantly in the north-east Australian states due to stadium challenges associated with AFL-orientated Victoria.
• Meanwhile, South Australia’s recent sporting successes include the hosting of AFL Gather Round, LIV Golf and recent procurement of the 2024 Super Netball final from Victoria.

The end of the Commonwealth Games?

• Perhaps the most critical question is the viability not only of the 2026 Games, but also the broader Commonwealth Games movement.
• However, whereas the Commonwealth Games Federation had just under 2,000 days to secure a replacement host for 2022, Victoria’s withdrawal has occurred only 973 days prior to the start of the event.
• With seemingly little global appetite to host the event, and broader cultural discussions in Australia and abroad surrounding the role of the monarchy, existential questions surround the Commonwealth Games movement.

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