Commonwealth Games Federation delegation to meet with State Government as decision on 2026 bid looms
THE Commonwealth Games Federation is coming to Adelaide for talks with the State Government next month in a major step towards a decision on whether SA will bid for the 2026 Games.
THE Commonwealth Games Federation will visit Adelaide for talks with the State Government in a major step towards a decision on whether South Australia will bid for the 2026 Games.
A delegation from the London-based CGF will be in Adelaide from September 6-8 as part of a fact-finding trip Down Under, after completing their review of the Gold Coast Games in April.
The CGF was in Adelaide for talks last year before Birmingham was confirmed as the replacement host for Durban, which was stripped of the 2022 Games.
It’s understood that a working party has been established within the Office of Recreation and Sport to conduct a thorough cost analysis of the Games in Adelaide.
Premier Steven Marshall told The Advertiser the CGF visit would help the Government decide whether to pursue a bid for 2026, which is expected to be awarded in September, 2019.
This year’s Gold Coast Games are estimated to have cost about $2 billion.
“We're interested in the Commonwealth Games but are by no means committed to it,” Mr Marshall said.
“We think there is an opportunity to review what happened at the Gold Coast, gather information, and then determine whether this is a good deal for the taxpayers of South Australia. We’re just working through it.
“A lot of people said ‘the Gold Coast Games are over now, haven't you done the evaluation?’ Well it takes a bit of time for the dust to settle for them to do their reports and share them with us.
“And then we can look at ‘what is the investment? What is the likely return? Did they do as well as they thought? What are the impacts in terms of positioning the Gold Coast tourism, investment?’ Then we have to make a decision because there are so many conflicting opportunities. Do we do that or do we do a fund which is trying to bring five world titles (across varying sports) to South Australia?”
Australian Commonwealth Games Association president Sam Coffa and chief executive Craig Phillips will also be in Adelaide for the CGF’s visit.
“At this stage, it’s at a dialogue phase,” Phillips said.
“It’s a chance for state governments with an interest in potentially hosting a games to find out what is possible and what that looks like, and get feedback on what’s feasible, what isn’t, and any other ideas they may not have had.”
It's understood the CGF’s trip will also include a meeting with the NSW Government. Western Sydney is believed to be interested in hosting the Games in eight years.
Sydney hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1938 while Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Gold Coast have all since hosted the Commonwealth Games which have never been to Adelaide.
Edmonton in Canada and Auckland in New Zealand are other cities that have been linked to a possible bid for 2026.
Sports Minister Corey Wingard was unavailable for comment but he went to the Gold Coast Games in April and later said it presented an “exciting” prospect for SA.