Victoria edges closer to sealing Commonwealth Games for 2026

Victoria’s leading figures say hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026 would be a huge boon for the state post Covid. Now the government has moved a step closer.

Victoria looks set to launch a formal bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Sources close to the working group considering the bid told the Saturday Herald Sun they expect it to be approved as early as next week.

The state government has been considering an approach by the Commonwealth Games Federation, which is searching for a host city for the event.

“They’ve made up their minds, they just haven’t formalised the paperwork,” one senior source said.

“But it looks like Victoria will bid.”

The 2006 Commonwealth Games created thousands of jobs.

The government has been analysing how the event could tap into regional centres and what impact it would have on the economy.

It is understood a final economic analysis is being conducted before approving submission of a bid.

A KPMG analysis of Melbourne’s 2006 Commonwealth Games found the event prompted an increase in Gross State Product of about $1.6bn over a 20-year period and employment of about 13,600 jobs.

The event’s total bill was $2.9bn.

The Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games at the MCG.

A 2030 Commonwealth Games taskforce established four years ago has backed their plan being brought forward.

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

Business and community leaders, including Lord Mayor Sally Capp, have thrown her support behind the bid.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief Felicia Mariani said the Games would be a boon for Victoria.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp has thrown her support behind the bid for the Commonwealth Games. Picture: Getty Images

“Melbourne hosting another Commonwealth Games in 2026 is just what the city needs right now to rebuild our confidence and announce to the world that Melbourne is back,” she said.

“While we need to ensure the numbers stack up, there’s no other destination in the country with the incredible sporting infrastructure already in place like Melbourne has.

“The fact that on Thursday we hosted an Asian Cup Qualifier literally across the road from the only grand slam tennis tournament in the Southern Hemisphere is testament to our pedigree in this area.

“The Victorian government has also made significant investment in recent years to upgrade the quality of our regional sporting facilities, which means the benefits of hosting these Comm Games would stretch to our key regional centres as well.”

An estimated worldwide TV audience of 1.5 billion watched as the flying tram descended in 2006.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra also backed a Commonwealth Games bid.

“For Melbourne – and largely, Victoria – to land a global event with the prestige and excitement that the Commonwealth Games brings would be sensational for all facets of our local business, tourism and infrastructure,” he said.

“The economic impact would be positively felt across the state, with regional participation being heavily considered, and I know Melburnians would love the opportunity to host and attend in our own backyard.

“Opportunities like this give us the platform to showcase our fantastic state to the rest of the globe, and also demonstrates our capabilities to continue hosting other major events.”

Melbourne last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2006 in an event which has been dubbed the “best Commonwealth Games ever”.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip headed the list of dignitaries at the 2006 Games. Picture: Getty Images

It saw Australians win 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 II, Prince Philip, then 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.

Originally published as Victoria edges closer to sealing Commonwealth Games for 2026