Melbourne could host 2026 Commonwealth Games

Supporters of Melbourne’s potential Commonwealth Games bid say hosting the event would send a stunning global message — but others aren’t so sure.

Melbourne could host another Commonwealth Games, 20 years after the highly successful 2006 event.

Victoria’s peak tourism body has backed a potential bid for the Commonwealth Games, saying it would tell the world: “Melbourne is back”.

The state government is considering an approach by the Commonwealth Games Federation, which is searching for a host city for the 2026 games — just 20 years after the event was last staged here.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the idea of the city hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games “just made sense” and that the sporting infrastructure was already in place.

“Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia, and is known internationally for its vast array of spectacular events,’’ Cr Capp said.

“Hosting the Games would further cement Melbourne’s reputation as a drawcard for sporting fans across the globe, and would deliver a welcome boost for traders, especially in the hospitality sector, who have been so hard hit during the past two years.

“Sporting fans around the world are already focused on Melbourne, with the Australian Open successfully launching this week.”

“The fact that Melbourne so recently hosted the Commonwealth Games means that we have existing infrastructure ready to go.’’

For Cr Capp to be Lord Mayor in 2026, she would have to win her third term in the 2024 election.

John So was Melbourne Lord Mayor in 2006 when he became something of a cultural icon with the “John So, he’s my bro’” catchphrase popular around town.

In 2006, then Melbourne Lord Mayor John So gained huge popularity during the Commonwealth Games.

At the Games closing ceremony during the introduction of dignitaries, Mr So was the only official to be given a rousing cheer from the MCG crowd.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief Felicia Mariani said if the state government could get a successful bid over the line it would be a major boost to the state’s pandemic recovery.

“This could be just the best thing,’ she said.

“It would be just the shot in the arm the industry needs. When big events like this come along, we come together like no one else to make it happen.”

Ms Mariani said existing infrastructure in Melbourne and major regional hubs meant Victoria was virtually ready to host such an event.

Queen Elizabeth in Melbourne for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Joe Castro

“It is not like we would be starting from ground zero,” she said.

“The biggest issue we have at the moment is confidence levels. They’ve been shattered.

“Locking in an event like this would see people start to regain that confidence.

“It would send a message to the world: Melbourne is back.”

The search for a host city comes after plans to host the games in Birmingham were fast-tracked to 2022.

The South African city of Durban was stripped of the honour due to a series of missed deadlines and financing issues.

It is understood a bid is being worked through by the Victorian government.

“It’s not a goer, but it’s being looked at,” a source close to the deliberations said.

“It’s not at a point yet where a bid has been approved, but it’s being worked through.

Jana Pittman competes in the hurdles at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

GAMES MUST BE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting chief executive Scott Veenker said the move made sense if it was economically viable.

“Cities like Melbourne that have the capability and infrastructure are being asked to step up and host global events, such as the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“But equally, it needs to be economically viable for us to host them and we know a lot of work is going on behind the scenes to ensure it stacks up before Victoria throws its hat in the ring. The Victorian Chamber would be fully supportive of such a move, and we are particularly excited by the opportunity to provide a platform to showcase our entire state to the world.

“The flow-on effects for business and our global reputation will be huge and we should be grabbing opportunities like this with both hands.”

But Bill Lang, executive director of Small Business Australia and founder of new political outfit the Victorians Party, dismissed the move.

“It is astounding that at a time when we have hundreds of thousands of small business families struggling to survive what is effectively lockdown 7 in Victoria, without a cent of compensation from either the state or federal government, that the Victorian government would consider spending billions to host the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“Our small business families need support today, they need free access to rapid antigen tests, they need access to support funds to be able keep their doors open, pay employees, put food on the table for their families and get the kids to school and we strongly urge the Andrews government to get to focus on repairing the shattered Victorian economy, rather than wasting billions funding a future event this city does not need.”

The flying tram was an icon of Melbourne’s 2006 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

TASK FORCE BACKS PLAN

The Herald Sun has previously revealed a team was conducting a feasibility study on making a bid for the 2030 or 2026 games to be hosted by major regional centres in Victoria.

A 2030 Commonwealth Games task force established four years ago is fully behind their plan being brought forward.

Chair Adem Karafili said: “We knew from day one this concept would make sense and I think Covid has made it even more achievable.

“It’s designed to ensure that existing infrastructure is upgraded and revamped rather than building wholesale new facilities. It would also be a legacy piece for regional cities to be able to bid for national and international championships.”

The bid also involves Shepparton, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo.

The pre-feasibility study, which was funded jointly by the state government and regional councils, was completed prior to Covid at the start of 2020 and was due to be formally presented to the government.

There have been meetings with Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events Martin Pakula, about securing $1m for the full feasibility study.

Talks are extremely positive for a regional bid provided Melbourne plays a key role in it.

It’s believed to also involve multiple athlete hubs rather than a central athlete village.

Fireworks explode over the MCG at the 2006 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.

2006 GAMES ‘BEST EVER’

Melbourne last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2006 in an event that was dubbed the “best Commonwealth Games ever”.

Australians won a record haul of 221 medals, including 84 gold.

More than 7000 athletes and officials from 71 nations took part in the games, a smorgasbord of sporting events not seen in Melbourne since the 1956 Olympics.

Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prime Minister John Howard and Premier Steve Bracks headed the list of dignitaries at the MCG and an estimated worldwide TV audience of 1.5 billion watched as the flying tram descended to a stage at the centre of the ground.

The 11 days of competition that followed went smoothly, especially for the Australian team, which had its most successful Commonwealth Games ever.

A KPMG analysis of the games found total expenditure was around $2.9bn

The event resulted in an increase in Gross State Product of about $1.6bn over a 20-year period and employment of around 13,600 jobs.

A government spokesman said: “Victoria is Australia’s premier events state and we’re always working hard to attract new major events”.

Originally published as Melbourne could host 2026 Commonwealth Games