Commonwealth Games 2026 - Melbourne cancels

[Upsidedownpineapplecake]

What do we think about this? I’m a bit shocked

It's quite late in the day, at only 3 years out.

I’m not surprised though. I’ve heard it said it’s a money pit, and a big carbon emitter, and ‘problematic’ in its conception, and perhaps needs to be scaled down now, and funding handed off to nations for regional competitions.

It certainly does. I think they took it on late.
I only had an email the other day with a countdown from the organisers

I’m not surprised either. It was going to be too expensive and an enormous project to be completed in too short a time. I’m glad really and wonder about the affordability and relevance of the Commonwealth Games going forward. While it’s important for those qualifying/taking part the cost to hosts is huge.

I think it's shocking - the analysis should have been done before agreeing to host it, and making a big deal about hosting it and what it would do for the regions. Really leaving the games in the lurch now and making Victoria look untrustworthy.

I think with cost of living going through the roof it is a wise decision. If you committed to building a house not at fixed price 3 years ago your costs would have doubled. Seems to have been the same with the games. I think it is a shame for the athletes but I also think it will spell the end of the games. I also dont think they are really relevant anymore and it is not a bad thing. I am pleased they will be spending the money elsewhere.

It’s understandable but a massive shame

went to birmingham twice last summer to the games and thought it was all
rather great .

THR thing /is they only committed to hosting the games in Feb 22 and we're reporting the cost as $ 2.6b less than 6 weeks ago and assuring everyone that everything was fine, only to go to $6b yesterday They've gone about this in a really sneaky, dishonest way.

It's not a good look is it? I always thought the plan for purpose-built facilities around various regional areas was bizarre when Melbourne already has most facilities available. Surely that's what blew the cost out so much?

But agree that the money's better spent elsewhere. It reminds me of the outcry when Obama cut all spending into space exploration b/c there are too many problems here on earth... some people were still furious with him.

Sneaky and dishonest to whom? The State Govt are ultimately responsibly to the people of Victoria and not the games committee or the athletes. I am much happier that the money will be spent elsewhere!

I think you can be ultimately responsible for Victoria without reassuring everything is fine and then pulling the plug with no notice or discussion.

I found this informative, given I hadn't followed it much:

Victoria's Commonwealth Games move presents one big question: How did Andrews get it so wrong? - ABC News

I’m worrying about what is ahead for Australia. The last El Niño season brought the horrendous 2019-2020 bushfires. We are due another El Niño season and it looks like it will be this year. Then we had La Niña with years of consequent floods. As well as the climate crisis, we have a housing crisis made worse by loss of homes to floods and fires. And as well as the housing crisis, we have the cost of living crisis, high inflation, severely underfunded public (state)schools, stuttering health care etc..

I’m more upset at hearing the news that a state school has to cancel its sports carnival due to lack of funds, than I am about the cancellation of the commonwealth games in Victoria.

I think the decision to back out of the games is a responsible one.

Our last federal government backed out of a subs deal with France and that was pretty ‘embarrassing,’ so it is not like this state government is setting a precedent in that regard.

And truly, we have more than enough national sporting competitions, imo. Plus the Olympics every four years.

Forgot to add that Australia has hosted the commonwealth games 5 times compared to Britain which has hosted 3 times. So, there’s that. Also.

It's a shame if the Games are wound up - it's one of the few major multi-sport events where para and able-bodied sports compete at the same time. I worked at the 2002 games as staff and was based in the athlete's village at games time - many of the athletes with a disability said that it was their only chance to compete before such a huge crowd. Ditto sports like netball, squash etc, which aren't Olympic sports.

I think in general major events need a reset. Opening and closing ceremonies are hugely expensive, we don't need baton relays, and more could be done to streamline costs. Many cities will have most of the infrastructure already there (we used Manchester Met's halls of residence as the athlete's village), and more could be done to utilise temporary competition venues. If a football stadium can be used for putting on Coldplay concerts, then there is really no reason why it can't be temporarily switched to an athletics stadium, for example, and having swimming champs in arenas with temporary swimming pools has already been done too. Major events can be a huge temporary boosts to areas - ours really changed the mentality of Mancunians for a couple of years; there was a lot of civic pride, but no city needs white elephant permanent sporting structures if they aren't going to be well used.

I think the mentality from the CGF that each games has to be bigger and better than the rest has to stop. There also needs to be more recognition that the Empire is not what it was, for good reason, and to recognise the independence and individuality of member states.

I was really surprised that Victoria wanted to host the games in the first place given the expense coming out of Covid. Very poor planning on their part.

And even worse to get the games and then cancel. They should not have bid for them in the first place.

The Mayor of the Gold Coast is considering bidding to takeover hosting apparently. I’d support that.

@Cloudflare Absolutely agree with you. It's far more upsetting to read in the news about families living in cars and tents, local services being cut, food banks raided and on it goes.

Hell, I'm upset that my ND son just got another diagnosis along with a funding cut to his school for support. People are tearing their hair out on so many levels.

At least the Olympics seem a bit more inclusive on a worldwide level? Although I like your point @PauliesWalnuts that in the Comm Games the para and able bodied athletes compete at the same time.

Britian has hosted the games 7 times.

Britain has never hosted, England, Wales and Scotland have.

Perhaps different aspects could be in different countries eg gymnastics in one place, sportsfield races another etc
I always felt it was a good place to get medals - not as fierce as Olympics but more internatlional than nationals.

COL is high, but the cost of building and all it entails is sky high. I can well imagine that no one could foresee how much the costs would sky rocket.

I work in insurance and claim costs due to building prices have gone crazy high.

Loads of countries have already invested so much in sport for various Olympics and Commonwealth events in the past. why not just use these in rotation. Now the money has been spent at these venues, wouldn't it make sense to bring revenue back to them by hosting again, and not expecting every single country to build vast flashy stadiums and tracks. Or just use the facilities that already exist.

Aye, so much for recycling and sustainability ... it's just more and more endless consumption and air flights and plastic waste

Andrew said that money would be better spent in health and education, and I agree 100%.

Why not use all the facilities we already have? Sydney could host it at the Olympic park surely. Dan Andrews is terrible with money, he’s cancelled loads of things, but it makes sense, their lockdown was brutal and so long, they can’t pay for everything.