2026 Commonwealth Games: Mayor Tom Tate’s big call on Gold Coast’s bid to host sports event
Mayor Tom Tate has made a big call on the future of the Gold Coast’s plans to host the 2026 Games, with Australia’s sporting reputation ‘in tatters’. THE FULL STORY
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Mayor Tom Tate has sensationally pulled the pin on his ambitious bid for the Gold Coast to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The international sporting event’s future is under a cloud after Mr Tate declared he was abandoning the push, citing a lack of support from the state or federal governments to make it a reality,
“We did our best and that’s all people can expect,” he said.
“Since announcing in July that the Coast was prepared to host the 2026 games, I have been overwhelmed by support from locals, sports administrators, businesses and athletes, all wanting to see the event saved.
“We also received fantastic support from great Australians like Gina Rinehart, Gerry Harvey and Katie Page.
“Yet we couldn’t generate support from the state or federal governments.
“As such, I have today written to the new Commonwealth Games Federation president, Chris Jenkins, OBE, advising that our city is moving forward and seeking other major sports and festival events.
“I wish the federation success in finding a host for the 2026/27 games.”
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) CEO Craig Phillips said he “understood” the mayor’s position.
“Mayor Tate is an enthusiastic advocate for the Commonwealth Games because he knows how they can transform a city when delivered well, but we understand the need of the Queensland Government to focus their efforts on the enormous opportunity that is Brisbane 2032,” he said.
“CGA, alongside our colleagues at the Commonwealth Games Federation, are working tirelessly to find an alternative solution for the athletes of Australia and the Pacific and conversations continue on four continents including here at home.”
It comes just days after Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas expressed an interest in sharing the event with the Gold Coast. Mr Tate’s push to host the Games began in July after then-Victorian premier Daniel Andrews abandoned it citing costs.
Federal Sports Minister Anika Wells opened the door to the bid saying she would be “willing to consider such a proposal” if support was “forthcoming from the Queensland Government”.
However it was not to come, something Deputy Mayor Donna Gates warned would doom the event.
“Without state or federal funding the city cannot put on the Games,” she said. in October “We spent 10 years organising the last ones and council did not deliver those games, the government did so clearly the Premier has said categorically no.”
Under the proposal put forward by the Mayor, a stripped down Gold Coast games would cost between $700m and $1bn and would have required the state to provide in-kind support such as police and public transport.
Mr Tate said the city would now focus on attracting other big-ticket events to the city which he hoped would be economic drivers.
However he declined to details which events he was focused on attraction.
“Commercially, that wouldn’t be wise to flag to other cities the type of events we are looking at,” he said.
“I firmly believe a 2026/27 Gold Coast-Perth games would have generated much-needed employment for both regions.
“Cost-of-living pressures are real and our city has a proven record of getting ahead of economic challenges, to buffer any downturn in the economy.
“With the Gold Coast now out of the running, our new Experience GC team will look to attract other major events and festivals to keep our economy in good shape.”
Mr Tate had a “positive” meeting with Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips and Commonwealth Games Federation partners director Michael Bushell in October hoping to convince them to bring the event to the city.
He lashed both governments for failing to get behind the proposal.
“In simple terms, it seems our Games’ vision doesn’t align with the vision of the state or federal governments,” he said.
“From the outset, I knew our bid was audacious but I also knew it would have come at no cost to ratepayers.
“Despite not finding support at a state or federal level, our city’s reputation as a place where we have-a-crack has been reinforced across the Commonwealth.
“Sadly, at the same time, our country’s reputation as a place that reneges on a global sports contract remains in tatters.”
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Originally published as 2026 Commonwealth Games: Mayor Tom Tate’s big call on Gold Coast’s bid to host sports event
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