Commonwealth Games cancellation described as not only a sporting embarrassment but a ‘crushing blow’ to Victoria’s hospitality industry

The news that sprint star Gout Gout will be competing in an overseas Games funded by Victorian taxpayers has served as a grim reminder that regional cafes, pubs and hotels will miss out on a “once-in-a-generation opportunity”.

Thousands of regional Victorian cafes, pubs, hotels and restaurants are set to miss out on “million and millions” of dollars that would have been delivered by the most exciting Commonwealth Games in decades, with teen track star Gout Gout set to race in Glasgow.

The Allan government has been accused of fumbling a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” and “defying logic” amid renewed backlash over the decision to can the Victorian Games and send $200 million in taxpayer funds to prop up the star-studded overseas event instead.

Cafes, pubs and hotels in regional Victoria will miss out on ‘millions and millions’ of dollars. Picture: iStock

Some regional councils are also fear legacy sporting facilities touted as world class and pledged to make up for the cancellation will fail to impress.

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed teen sprinting superstar Gout Gout would run at next year’s event in Glasgow which will be funded almost entirely by Victorian taxpayers.

Wes Lambert, CEO of the Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association said cancelling the games was not only a sporting embarrassment but a “crushing blow” to Victoria’s hospitality industry.

“Thousands of cafes, restaurants, bars and hotels were counting on the once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase their venues to the world,” he said.

“Victoria had the world’s attention, and fumbled it.”

Teen sprinting superstar Gout Gout is set to run at next year’s Games in Glasgow. Picture: Richard Walker

Local republican Patrick Glenane, owner of Ballarat’s City Oval Hotel, said it was a “real shame” that the regional city was missing out on hosting such a superstar.

“We would have been flat out, every room would have been booked, jobs would have been created,” he said.

The state government is racing to complete billions of dollars worth of sporting upgrades across Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Geelong and Gippsland.

However the scope of some projects has changed, with shovels yet to hit the ground for others.

Among them is a new indoor sporting complex at Waurn Ponds.

The state government confirmed that construction would only begin in the coming months.

Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj said it was “hugely disappointing” to see running star Gout Gout competing in an overseas Games funded by Victorian taxpayers.

“They will bring in millions and millions in economic value that should have been going towards our hospitality and retail venues,” he said.

“It just defies logic.”

Mr Kontelj said there was “no chance” the Waurn Ponds sports facility would be complete by March when the Games were supposed to have been held.

“The infrastructure hasn’t been delivered yet and we’re concerned it will be less than we’ve hoped for,” he said.

Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj says it is disappointing that hospitality and retail venues will miss out.

Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said it was disappointing that the regions would miss out on stars like Gout Gout but said some local upgrades were already complete, including the Shepparton BMX and Cycling Precinct.

A Bendigo Stadium upgrade is also yet to commence, while major works only began on the Armstrong Creek Sports Centre in May.

The location of 300 of a promised 1300 homes to replace accommodation for 1800 athletes and officials are also yet to be announced.

Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said on Wednesday the event was “literally unaffordable”, with government costs fixing a $6bn price tag to host the Games.

But Glasgow’s version will go ahead for $234m, with about $200m funded by Victoria’s compensation payout.

The rest is expected to be derived from ticket sales and other commercial deals.

Opposition spokesman for sport and major events Sam Groth rubbished claims that Victoria couldn’t afford to hold the event.

“We call ourselves the sporting capital of Australia and yet the Allan Labor government has refused to use our existing infrastructure, instead delivering any benefit to the other side of the world,” he said.

Originally published as Commonwealth Games cancellation described as not only a sporting embarrassment but a ‘crushing blow’ to Victoria’s hospitality industry