Australia set to save 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland deal

Australia is set to save the tortured 2026 Commonwealth Games after stepping in with a multimillion-dollar assistance package.

Australia is set to facilitate the last piece in the puzzle to allow Glasgow to host the troubled 2026 Commonwealth Games.

After the Victorian government pulled out of hosting the Games in July last year, citing a massive cost blowout, the 2026 edition and the Commonwealth Games in general have been under a cloud.

But AAP reported on Monday Scotland’s government is on the cusp of signing off on hosting the sporting competition in two years’ time, following Glasgow’s previous hosting in 2014.

Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) is reportedly meeting with Scottish officials to hold talks over the event, with CGA offering a multimillion-dollar investment that will help get the deal over the line.

Australia is set to help save the 2026 Commonwealth Games. (Photo by Gareth Copley - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

The Scottish and United Kingdom governments had refused to use any public money towards the rescue bid, which was being largely bankrolled by a $200 million supplement from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

That money had come from the $380 million compensation the Victorian government paid after its disastrous and embarrassing withdrawal.

Scotland had asked the UK government to underwrite the Games and chip in about $4.5m to cover any security cost blowouts, which was refused.

It’s understood that Australia is now tabling an offer in the vicinity of that $4.5m, which was been accepted

“We commend Commonwealth Games Australia for making this generous multimillion-pound offer,” CGF president Chris Jenkins said in a statement ahead of Australia’s meeting with the Scottish government.

Ex-Victorian premier Daniel Andrews at a press conference for the state’s doomed hosting bid. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Ariarne Titmus winning gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. (Photo by Tim Goode/PA Images via Getty Images)

Government sources told Scotland’s BBC: “If we remain satisfied that the public purse won’t have to be opened to pay for these Games, the confidence is rising that Monday will bring good news.”

It is expected that Scotland will host a much smaller version of the Games than in past years, featuring between 10 and 13 sports, which is around one-third less than in the last edition in Birmingham in 2022.

Existing facilities will be used and the Australian contribution is tipped to be used to help cover extra policing and security costs.

After Victoria cited a blowout of between $2 billion and $3 billion to host the Games, an audit found Victoria’s decision was based on poor accounting.

A number of other cities in Australia and around the world also turned down hosting the competition before the Glasgow rescue offer became public.