Aussies react to state government’s shock call to dump the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Victoria’s snap decision to dump the 2026 Commonwealth Games has divided public opinion, with some fuming over the call while others applaud the move as fiscally responsible. Join the debate.

Victoria’s decision to scrap its commitment to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games has sent shockwaves through the sporting world.

On Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews revealed his government would be tearing up its contract with Games authorities after it became clear that the event would not cost the $2.6b initially forecast, but as much as $7bn or more.

Mr Andrews said his state had been “willing to help” Games organisers by stepping in and agreeing to host the event in several regional cities, but not at any cost.

“I think all Victorians would agree that more than $6bn is just too much,” Mr Andrews said.

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

“We’re simply not going to invest that money.”

Instead, Mr Andrews announced, the government will spend $2bn on a support package for regional Victoria and pledged $1bn on a Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1300 new homes across the state.

The government’s decision to walk away from the Games sparked a reaction across the country, and the world, with several atheltes and sporting bodies expressing their anger and disappointment at the news.

Here’s a look at what you, our readers, have been saying about today’s shock announcement.

>> Join the conversation on our Facebook page or comment below.

Why did we agree to it in the first place?

PETER
He shouldn’t have bid for it in the first place.

DARREN
There was a reason no one else wanted to host the white elephant to start with.

MEA
If they couldn’t afford it, why put in a bid in the first place?

DEAN
He has embarrassed a nation. The economic mismanagement beggars belief. The amount he is paying people to work on the big build project is astronomical and not sustainable, yet public hospitals don’t have enough pillows for patients and small builders are going broke due to not being able to compete with the big build wage grab. No wonder he couldn’t afford the Comm Games.

RICHARD
Let’s face it, the Commonwealth Games are a poor man’s Olympics. Noone’s that interested. Let another city waste its money on it.

ROHAN
Doomed from the start once the government decided to host the event in multiple regional centres as opposed to Melbourne. Give it to Sri Lanka to host as they were denied by Gold Coast back in 2012.

Welcome to Victoria, a laughing stock

PHIL
Victoria is now not only the laughing stock of Australia but now the Commonwealth as a whole. A dumb decision to start with, now made even dumber. Only in Danistan.

HELEN

Melbourne had them in 2006, surely most of the facilities they had then could still be used. Heads should roll after this fiasco!

JOSEPH
Today’s spin line: ‘It will cost $6b instead of $2.5b. Victoria is broke, simple as that.

TONY
The people of Victoria have been treated like fools. This is a disgrace. He would have known before the last election this wasn’t going to happen. Now he can laugh at everyone.

DAVID
What a low act to make this announcement just days before the Women’s World Cup starts in Australia. What should be a highlight for our sports women on the world stage will now be overshadowed by this global embarrassment. Dan’s disregard for our community knows no bounds.

CATHY
Someone needs to resign. Melbourne has the stadiums, so why build more in the regions if we don’t ahve the money? Poor planning and poor decision-making. We are all paying a high price for this tunnel-building Andrews government. Who would want to do business in Victoria?

MATT
Melbourne, the city that USED to have a great reputation as a sporting capital.

SHIRLEY
Can’t wait to see Brisbane put this place to shame when it nails the Olympics in a few years time. Just like it did with the afl grand final. Australia’s true sporting capital.

JUSTIN
So ignore the millions of dollars which pour into the state from international visitation and the showcasing of the state to the world?

JANE
A pattern of miscalculation and blowouts from this fiscally inept Andrews Labor State Govt - how embarrassing for Australia.

STUART
We are so broke.

SPARKLY G
Not sure what’s more embarrassing. Cancelling it now, or bidding for it in the first place.

SAM
For a state government to not go ahead with such a massive global obligation is disgraceful. How stupid do they look? How stupid does it make the rest of Australia look? What a bunch of idiots!

SLIPPERY PETE
Andrews needs to answer two questions. Who did the original estimate? What is the break free?

LORRAINE

The pity is all the people working on these projects. They will be out of work. I hope they remember at the next election.

Funding suggestion

ROB
Just call it a belt and road project… and the money will just appear!!

Isn’t it ironic?

BRONWYN
The world’s ‘3rd most liveable city’ can’t afford to host the Commonwealth Games. Somewhere ironic.

Wow, just, wow

PATRICIA
WOW, Victoria. You all voted for this Financial Mess that you find the State of Victoria in. WOW.

Royal Commission now!

ALEXW
Time for a royal commission to find out why Victorians are so stupid when they vote.

The right call

LIN
Good decision, Dan, and tough to make it now. The fact is we should not have committed in the first place. The Games are a dinosuar, a thing of the past.

MARTIN
Good on Dan for pulling the pin. He may be ordinary but how does that rate the Opposition who can’t beat him at election time.

WALLACE
I don’t see what the problem is. $4b is a huge blow out and if the Games won’t come to the party, but are happy to reap the profits, too bad. Good to finally see a leader (say) no, the cost is too high.

CATHERINE
A very sensible and responsible decision. A breath of fresh air, actually.

NEIL
This is exactly what the Qld Premier should do with the Olympics.

GRAEME
Very good financial management.

SCOTT
Great move Dan and Labor. Let WA have it with their $4b state surplus!

BRUCE13
This cancellation is a sensible economic decision. The Liberal didn’t want the Games in the first place and now they are criticising Andrwews for doing the right thing. Do any other states want the Games at a $6b cost? SA has already said no!

SCOTTY
A good decision. If it had gone ahead, there’d be such shrill whining about the blow-outs that you’d go deaf.

ANDREW
Great news and fiscally responsible. A waste of money for an irrelevant, and quickly forgotten, event. $6b is going to fund a lot of hospital beds, school classrooms and affordable housing.

STEVEN
It’s about time the Commonwealth Games were cancelled (finished). A waste of money and a waste of resources. Well done, Dan!

CRAIG
Not a supporter of Dan, but if the adjusted cost for the Commonwealth Games has blown-out from $2.6bn to $7bn, then the cancellation is justified. Victoria is already drowning in debt.

GILLIAN
The fact is that it’s the smart decision at a time when people are struggling with low wages and housing.You can’t have bread and circuses when no one can afford the bread.

Other states say thanks, but no thanks

RICHARD
There is no way NSW should take on the Commonwealth Games. We cannot afford it and there are far better ways to spend taxpayers’ money

BELLO
Please, no more Games in Sydney! We don’t have enough room for the 100,000s of immigrants and students that Albo has ireesponsibly dropped on us, let alone thousands more visitors for the Games. Use our taxpayers’ money to fix the hospitals.

DUNCAN
I clearly remember then SA Treasurer Kevin Foley saying that the Commonwealth Games was a ‘B’ grade event. He was right then and still right.

Originally published as Aussies react to state government’s shock call to dump the 2026 Commonwealth Games