State Government requests feasibility report into Adelaide hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games
The State Government has declared it wants to bring the Commonwealth Games to Adelaide — if it makes economic sense — taking the most significant step so far towards hosting the 12-day international sporting event.
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- FEBRUARY: Adelaide almost ‘Games-ready’, is preferred bidder
- SEPTEMBER: Games officials scout Adelaide sporting sites
- AUGUST: Games delegation to meet with government officials
- JUNE: State Government begins formal talks about bid for 2026 Games
The State Government has declared it wants to bring the Commonwealth Games to Adelaide if it makes economic sense and has commissioned a report into the cost and merit of hosting the 12-day international sporting event.
In the most significant step towards SA potentially bidding for the 2026 Games, cabinet this week agreed to move from a discussion to feasibility phase after meeting with the UK-based Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) late last year.
An independent firm will work with the Office of Recreation and Sport to complete a statewide sporting infrastructure report by October.
Within that will be a recommendation to government of whether Adelaide is in a position to bid for the Games and at what cost.
Adelaide remains the Australian Commonwealth Games Association’s (ACGA) preferred city for 2026 and bids must be finalised by the end of the year.
Sports Minister Corey Wingard told The Advertiser he wanted the Games in Adelaide if it meant more jobs, economic growth and left a sporting and infrastructure legacy.
“We know the Commonwealth Games community is really keen on Adelaide as a host city but we need to see if that fits and is the right thing for South Australia,” Mr Wingard said.
“I’m a sports fan, I want any sporting event in South Australia, I’m a sports nut and I think any sports nut would want it.
“But from a state perspective we want to make sure it stacks up and there are benefits for South Australia.
“We know we need to have a strong economy, we have a big focus on creating jobs and having an economic benefit out of any investment we make.
“So as a sports fan, yes I want it, but we want to make sure there is economic benefit and job-creation opportunities.”
Mr Wingard said if not for 2026 then SA would consider 2030 or 2034. The next Games in 2022 will be in Birmingham in the UK and 2030 is expected to go to Canada to mark the 100th anniversary of the birthplace of the Empire Games.
“Coming into government we looked at this straight away and I went to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (last April) then I asked ‘well what work has been done?’” Mr Wingard said.
“And sadly no work had been done. When you look at the opportunities on the horizon 2026 is the immediate one and it’s a tight turnaround to get all the work done for that.
“But we made a commitment we would have a look at it and leave no stone unturned exploring if that’s right for South Australia.
“We’ll have an eye on 2030 and 2034 as well as we do this work and just work out whether it’s 2026 or beyond that might be better, or is it not the right time and would we be better off investing in other projects and events.”
ACGA president Ben Houston said he welcomed the government’s decision to investigate hosting the Games.
“Commonwealth Games Australia wants to see the Games return to Australia, it’s important for our athletes and our member sports and as we’ve seen recently on the Gold Coast, hosting the Games can deliver great legacy benefits to communities,” Mr Houston said.
“Adelaide is a very strong case and the CGF’s requirements are for a feasibility study to be completed. In announcing the decision to commission that, South Australia has a head start.”
Adelaide is the only major capital city in Australia not to have hosted the Games after Melbourne (2006), Brisbane (1982), Perth (1962) and Sydney (1938).
An economic report by the Queensland Government into last year’s Gold Coast Games is set to be released on April 5 to mark one year since the event.
It is expected to detail a $2.5 billion boost to the state’s economy, of which $1.8 billion was injected directly into the Gold Coast.
It’s been estimated the Gold Coast Games cost $2bn ($1bn on capital and $1bn on operations) which Mr Wingard described as “excessive”.
That included significant spend on infrastructure such as extending the light rail and building a new velodrome and multiple venues on the Coast, and the CGF has since changed the delivery model of the Games to keep costs for host cities down.
The CGF visited Adelaide twice late last year and declared it largely ‘Games ready’.
“Around the world they are trying to bring down the cost of the Games because they have been getting out of control,” Mr Wingard said.
“You’ve got to look at legacy infrastructure, the Gold Coast had their tramline and knowledge precinct around the (Griffith) university and whatever else so it’s ‘what else would we be left with in South Australia?’.”
Mr Wingard would not confirm whether Adelaide needed a new inner-city stadium to host the Games, which would then host sports such as basketball, netball, tennis and concerts thereafter.
“That’s the work that needs to be done (in the infrastructure report),” he said.
“I have a vision to make South Australia a premier sporting state in the nation and in the world, we need to shoot high, so what is it that we need to get us there?
“From a grassroots level to a pathway level to the elite level, but we need a plan.
“Let’s get the right infrastructure in the right place, get more people playing, grow the grassroots, grow the pathway and the elite level.
“And then also the bigger stadium pitches for what’s going to get the best return for South Australia and see what’s on the table.
“We want to attract big events like we’ve already done with the WTA and ATP (tennis).
“We’ve done it with the Tour Down Under and we want to look at events like that which we can get to South Australia and grow.”
reece.homfray@news.com.au
Analysis — Game on, but other sports have to play ball
— Reece Homfray
THE biggest hurdle to Adelaide hosting the Commonwealth Games is not the cost or the merit of bringing an international sporting event to the city, but with just one stadium how does it keep everyone happy?
As we know, debate about anything to do with Adelaide Oval is not taken lightly.
If the Games are held in March or April then what does football do for two months?
And if it’s in October then what does that mean for the start of the cricket season and Adelaide Test?
Surely no one needs any convincing that bringing the fastest Jamaican sprinters in the world, Australia’s world record breaking cyclists or watching Kyle Chalmers, pictured, or Jess Trengove go for gold on home soil is a good idea.
Children would be inspired, cafes and hotels would be full, images of the city beamed around the world and ticket sales would boom.
Adelaide people support major events – sporting or not. They pack the Test, Big Bash and AFL games, swarm to the V8s and thousands even stand in 40C heat on the side of the road to watch the Tour Down Under go whizzing past.
The Games would be no different and Adelaide is in a good position because the Australian Commonwealth Games Association – and by extension the Commonwealth Games Federation – needs it.
There are only a few nations in the Commonwealth capable of hosting the Games and if cities don’t put their hand up, the future of the event is at risk. Adelaide could name its terms and its price and the CGF may have to come to the party.
It should be game on, but now to getting the other major codes on board.
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