• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

Commonwealth Games Federation Disappointed Over Victoria’s Withdrawal As 2026 Games Host

by Dapo Sotu
2 years ago
in News
Commonwealth
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has said the decision by Victoria State government to withdraw as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games was “hugely disappointing”.

Advertisement

 

The CGF said in a statement that it was given only eight-hour notice of the decision, which was announced by Victoria’s State Premier, Daniel Andrews, on Tuesday morning.

 

Andrews told the media in Melbourne the original budget for the games was estimated to be around $2.6 billion Australian dollars (£1.3 billion) but had ballooned out to nearly triple of the amount.

RELATED

Reps Probe EFCC Over Failed Attempts To Rearrest Emefiele From Kuje Prison

Emefiele Challenges Forfeiture Of 753 Abuja Houses

3 hours ago
STEM education

INSPIRE Project Launch Beacon Of STEM Education In Nigeria, Says Federal Gov’t

4 hours ago

 

He said: “Last year when the Commonwealth Games authorities approached us and needed someone to step in to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, as a state we were happy to help out, but of course not at any price.

 

“I’ve made a lot of difficult decisions in this job, this is not one of them.

 

“It’s just quite obvious, we are not going to spend six to seven billion dollars on a 12-day sporting event.

 

“We don’t just make popular decisions, we do what’s right and it would simply be wrong.”

 

But, Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive, Craig Phillips, delivered a stern response to the announcement and rejected the financial figures cited by Andrews.

 

“The stated cost overruns in our opinion are a gross exaggeration and not reflective of the operation costs presented to the Victorian 2026 Organising Committee as recently as June this year,” he said in a statement.

 

“The Victorian government wilfully ignored recommendations to move events to purpose-built stadia in Melbourne and in fact remained wedded to expensive temporary venues in regional Victoria.

 

“CGA welcomed the opportunity to review the financial analysis prepared independently of those involved at the coal face of planning and delivering.”

 

He added that the decision to scrap the games was “absolutely embarrassing.”

 

The CGF said in a statement: “This is hugely disappointing for the Commonwealth Sport Movement, for athletes around the Commonwealth and the organising committee who are well advanced in their planning and preparation.

 

“The reasons given are financial. The numbers quoted to us today of 6 billion dollars are 50 per cent more than those advised to the organising committee board at its meeting in June.

 

“These figures are attributed to price escalation primarily due to the unique regional delivery model that Victoria chose for these Games, and in particular relate to village and venue builds and transport infrastructure.”

 

The 2026 Commonwealth Games were set to be held in regional Victoria across towns like Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton.

 

The CGF statement continued: “Since awarding Victoria the Games, the government has made decisions to include more sports and an additional regional hub, and changed plans for venues, all of which have added considerable expense, often against the advice of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA).

 

“We are disappointed that we were only given eight hours’ notice and that no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find solutions prior to this decision being reached by the government.

 

“Up until this point, the government had advised that sufficient funding was available to deliver the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.”

 

The CGF said it remains “committed to finding a solution for the Games in 2026 that is in the best interest of our athletes and the wider Commonwealth Sport Movement.”

 

Australia has hosted the Commonwealth Games five times, including on the Gold Coast in 2018 and in the Victorian capital of Melbourne in 2006.

 

Commonwealth Games Scotland said it was “shocked” by the news.

 

“On the back of a very successful Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games for both Team Scotland and the Commonwealth Sport Movement in general, our preparations were well under way for selecting, preparing and sending a team to Australia in three years’ time,” a statement added.

 

“The Games is the only opportunity for many athletes to compete under the Scottish flag, and we know how much that means to them, our sports and supporters.

 

“We share their disappointment with today’s announcement and recognise the uncertainty it creates for all parties. We will now take the time to assess its implications and await further news from the Commonwealth Games Federation on options for the Games in 2026.”


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel

Breaking NEWS: Nigerians can now earn in US Dollars, acquire ultra premium domains for low and sell for super profit. Our client acquired a domain for $3715 and got it sold for $42,000. Click here to see how you too can profit from the business.


SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

UMTH Offers Free Medical Services To Mark 40th Anniversary In Borno

Next Post

Women To Tinubu: Deliver Your Promise On 35% Affirmative Action

Dapo Sotu

Dapo Sotu

You May Like

Reps Probe EFCC Over Failed Attempts To Rearrest Emefiele From Kuje Prison
News

Emefiele Challenges Forfeiture Of 753 Abuja Houses

2025/05/28
STEM education
Education

INSPIRE Project Launch Beacon Of STEM Education In Nigeria, Says Federal Gov’t

2025/05/28
Children’s Day: GoalPrime Seeks End To Malnourishment, Out-Of-School Syndrome
News

Children’s Day: GoalPrime Seeks End To Malnourishment, Out-Of-School Syndrome

2025/05/28
My Administration Sensitive To Economic Challenges – Tinubu
News

ECOWAS At 50: Let’s Close Ranks, Move Forward — Tinubu

2025/05/28
Buhari Off To Addis Ababa For 36th AU Summit
News

Ex-President Buhari Misses ECOWAS 50th Anniversary Over UK Medical Trip

2025/05/28
Abbas A True Democrat, Passionate Leader, Kalu Hails House Of Reps Speaker At 59
News

2nd Anniversary: Speaker Abbas, Deputy Kalu Hail Tinubu’s Strides

2025/05/28
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

Chelsea Make History With UEFA Conference Cup Victory Over Real Betis

Emefiele Challenges Forfeiture Of 753 Abuja Houses

INSPIRE Project Launch Beacon Of STEM Education In Nigeria, Says Federal Gov’t

Children’s Day: GoalPrime Seeks End To Malnourishment, Out-Of-School Syndrome

ECOWAS At 50: Let’s Close Ranks, Move Forward — Tinubu

Ex-President Buhari Misses ECOWAS 50th Anniversary Over UK Medical Trip

2nd Anniversary: Speaker Abbas, Deputy Kalu Hail Tinubu’s Strides

Social Workers Hail Tinubu For Professionalising Practice In Nigeria

JUST-IN: Literary Icon Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o Dies At 87

May 29: Address Insecurity, Review Your Policies, PDP Tells Tinubu

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.