Australia’s states unified, delivering 2026 Commonwealth Games a death sentence

Australia’s states have reached a rare unified position after Victoria’s staggering decision to abandon the Commonwealth Games.

NSW premier Chris Minns has quickly quashed the Commonwealth Games rescue call. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Australia’s states have reached a rare unified position that has given the 2026 Commonwealth Games a death sentence.

In a move that caught most off guard on Tuesday, Victorian Premier Dan Andrews said a budget blowout of at least $4 billion forced the state to give up its hosting duties for the event in 2026.

Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

NSW, South Australia and Western Australia were all quickly linked with rescuing the competition, but one-by-one they have all turned their back.

NSW premier Chris Minns was swift to end any hope of Sydney hosting the event.

“We’re not bidding for the Commonwealth Games and we’re not going to take them on,” he said.

“We’ve got world-class facilities and of course we’re hosting the Women’s World Cup in the coming months as well as hosting the best Olympic Games ever.

“But we’ve also got unprecedented debt in the state and I’m not going to commit to a massive project ... I’m not confident that we can complete given the (huge pressure) the government and the people of New South Wales are already facing. I’ve got to be acutely aware of the mandate for which we were elected.

“So I can’t commit to things that I’m not sure or confident that we can complete... We’re not in a position to take them on.”

Earlier on Tuesday, former Australian Olympic Committee boss John Coates told The Daily Telegraph Sydney would be well placed to host the Games, last held in the city in 1938.

“There’s no question we’ve got the venues ... and March would be a good time to host it,” Coates said.

“I’d love to see it come here …(in) 2026 it would coincide with the aerotropolis (opening). There’s the venues, the sports have the ability to organise it.

“It’d be great for Sydney’s reputation. We last hosted the games in 1938.”

Just a few hours later it is clear nobody is interested.

A South Australian government spokesperson issued a statement to show the state has no intention to step in.

The NSW premier quickly quashed any talk of Sydney hosting the 2026 Games. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Daniel Andrews during the press conference on July 18 to announce the cancellation of Victoria hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Today/Channel 9

Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff also reportedly ruled his state out of any potential bid.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday afternoon said the state will not be spending any more money on sport — on top of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

“In Queensland, our economic position is very good,” Ms Palaszczuk said, according to The Courier-Mail.

“I’ve had people say to me: ‘Can we run the Commonwealth Games?’. Well, no we can’t because we’re focused on the Olympics.

“And any extra money, we have to put into issues like social housing.”

In the west, Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas put pressure on the WA Government to swoop in.

However, that concept was knocked on its head just hours later.

WA Premier Roger Cook described the idea as “ruinously expensive”.

“Our analysis was consistent with the Victorian Government analysis that this would cost a significant amount of money and provide very little return on that investment, providing a highly expensive sugar hit of a 12-day sporting festival,” he said, according to The West Australian.

“What I want to see in WA is a continued investment in our schools and our hospitals, making sure we make Western Australia a great place to live.”

It was immediately speculated that Victoria’s decision would be viewed as a bad look and possibly damaging to Australia’s sporting reputation.

Mr Coates felt the growing excitement around Australia’s hosting of the Matildas and the rest of the 32 nations for the 2023 Women’s World Cup starting this week was evidence of the appetite for major sporting competitions.

“It’s very disappointing and disappointing having regard to Australia’s reputation hosting events,” he said of the Victorian move.

Sydney has the infrastructure in place to potentially host the 2026 Games. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“You only have to look at what’s happening with the Matildas. The Australians and Sydneysiders have a tremendous appetite for sport and there’d be no question tickets would sell out.”

A vast number of venues were either built or redeveloped for the Sydney Olympics.

While many of those venues would need an upgrade, Sport NSW chairman Chris Hall felt there was time to make it happen.

“I think it’s a tremendous opportunity for NSW, particularly considering the facilities we already have in place which we used for the 2000 Olympics,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity for our city and existing venues used in the Olympics to bring elite sporting talent to Sydney and New South Wales.

“We might have to spruce up a few venues because they are 23 to 25 years old – but they’re there and they’re capable.”

First held in 1930, the Commonwealth Games have been hosted a record five times in Australia, including Victoria in 2006 and the Gold Coast in 2018.

Former Labor MP Graham Richardson said Sydney stepping in for 2026 would be a “tremendous coup”.

“If I were (Premier Chris) Minns I’d jump at it,” he said.

“We’ve got the facilities – we’ve got adequate facilities for every sport because of the Olympics so we’re in a really good position to snap it up.

“It would bring millions of dollars to the economy – no doubt you get a lot of tourists. It’s a bloody lot of money.

“It would improve the image of Sydney and destroy the Melbourne myth that they are the sporting capital of Australia.

“The euphoria in Sydney during the Olympic Games is something I haven’t seen since and something I hadn’t seen before. It was quite extraordinary. These kinds of events just lift the place.”