The Commonwealth Games in 2026 are in jeopardy after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew its plans due to budget overruns.
Before Victoria agreed to host the Commonwealth Games in April 2022, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) struggled to find a host.
The planned cost, according to the premier, has now tripled and has become “well and truly too much” for the state to handle.
CGF described the decision as “hugely disappointing,” but stated that it is “committed to finding a solution.”
The Commonwealth Games are a multi-sport event held every four years. They were only ever canceled during World War II.
Competitors must be from one of the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries to be eligible to compete. The majority of Commonwealth countries were originally members of the British Empire.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews stated Monday that Victoria was “happy to help out” when asked to host last year, but “not at any price.”
Organizers had predicted that the event, which would take place in places like as Geelong, Bendigo, and Ballarat, would cost A$2.6 billion (£1.4 billion; $1.8 billion), and the state government had promoted it as a boost for the regions.
