Bids to host Commonwealth Games encouraged as event lives on following Victorian snub
The almost death of the Commonwealth Games prompted a significant change that officials believe will take the event beyond its 100th year.
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The much-criticised Victorian snubbing of the Commonwealth Games could prove the catalyst for a rebirth of the ailing competition.
Expressions of interest to host the 2030 centenary Games are officially being sought, with multi-city, and multi-nation bids “actively encouraged” as part of a new era.
Glasgow came to the rescue of the 2026 Comm Games after former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews withdrew his state’s obligation to host, citing cost blowouts beyond $6bn.
The newest incarnation in Scotland will be held without many of the sports that have become part of the Comm Games, including cricket and rugby, as part of a trimmed-down, 10-sport event with no athletes villages and mostly already established infrastructure.
But rather than lament the scaled-down version of the Games, which faced a bleak future under the old, expensive model, the Commonwealth Games Federation has leaned into the new model and officially confirmed the new collaborative host selection process for the centenary 2030 Commonwealth Games and beyond.
The CGF is continuing the “positive momentum” being created by Glasgow’s Games and invited its 74 Commonwealth Games associations (CGAs) to lodge formal expressions of interest for 2030.
The Commonwealth Games Federation has officially launched the new collaborative host selection process for the centenary 2030 Commonwealth Games and future editions.
— Commonwealth Sport (@thecgf) January 14, 2025
Read more about it here | https://t.co/3RKgdS7cM2pic.twitter.com/KYuclonGPt
Moving away from the “traditional host bidding process”, the CGF has opened the door for “flexible” offerings and urged potential hosts to be “innovative”, which could include multiple cities and countries hosting future Games.
’We have consulted extensively with governments, our CGA members and other stakeholders to create a new framework for advancing the relevance of the Commonwealth Games,” CGF president Chris Jenkins said.
“Building on this framework, we have identified the strong principles that will steer us in the creation of a modern, flexible Games blueprint for the future.
“Glasgow 2026 is set to act as a bridge to a bright future for the Commonwealth Games – an exciting first step in the CGF’s journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly co-created, flexible and sustainable model for the future that inspires athletes, delivers tangible legacy benefits, minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint and enhances social impact.”
CGF director of games and assurance Darren Hall said the new framework could open the door for countries “previously excluded” to possible host.
“In addition to single-city proposals, co-hosting within a country and across nations and territories will be actively encouraged to open up more hosting opportunities for more Commonwealth countries previously excluded from the ability to host,” he said.
Originally published as Bids to host Commonwealth Games encouraged as event lives on following Victorian snub