Billions for regional sport as Victoria gears up for the Games

A total of $2.6 billion will be spent preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games which, for the first time in the event’s history, will be held across four regions.

Athlete hubs will be established in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland, with the government hopeful that modern sports infrastructure and housing will leave a legacy for regional Victorians for decades to come.

Melbourne hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2006. In 2026 the honour will be shared among four regional hubs.Credit: Andrew Gorrie

After the Commonwealth Games have concluded, athlete villages in all four regional hubs will become social and affordable housing.

Shepparton will also host sporting and cultural events and other regional cities and towns are invited to register their interest in holding activities. An extra $111 million will be spent on tourism and support events.

The regional hubs will host athletes, officials and fans following an opening ceremony at the MCG.

Regional Development Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said it was expected the Games would contribute more than $3 billion to the Victorian economy. The government estimates more than 7500 jobs will be created before, during and after the event.

“The Games will deliver more housing and other legacy infrastructure that will really boost regional and rural Victoria for decades to come,” Thomas said.

Planning for competition venue facilities was underway, according to the budget papers, but details were very scant.

“The government is currently undertaking further scoping and due diligence of the proposed competition venues,” the budget papers say. “Additional sports and competition venues in regional Victoria, outside of the four hubs, are under consideration.”

Asked for a breakdown on how much each regional city will receive out of the $2.6 billion, Thomas said: “I’ll be able to unpack some of that detail at a later date.”

Forward estimates reveal the lion share of the $2.6 billion will be spent just before the Games begin, with $1.146 billion budgeted in 2025-2026.

A modest $36.3 million is budgeted this financial year, $222.6 million in 2022-23, $467.1 million in 2023-24 and $705.7 million in 2024-25.

The budget papers say costs may be updated to reflect the final athletic program for Victoria in 2026.

But asked if there would be any further spending beyond the $2.6 billion, Thomas said: “It is my anticipation that this is the commitment.”

Ballarat’s Mars Stadium - which hosts two AFL games each year - could play host to some of the world’s leading athletes. Credit: Getty

The Games are likely to be held in March to avoid significant clashes with the AFL season.

A core group of 16 sports will be played, with T20 cricket to be played in all four regions and cycling in Gippsland and Bendigo.

Geelong is the proposed venue for aquatics, beach volleyball, gymnastics, hockey, table tennis and triathlon, Ballarat is likely to host athletics and boxing, Bendigo is expected to stage lawn bowls, netball squash and weightlifting and Gippsland will be where rugby sevens and badminton will be played.

The regional hubs will host athletes, officials and fans following an opening ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, using Melbourne as the gateway to regional Victoria.

The Victorian government is keen to use existing facilities where possible to minimise costs and concentrate spending on additional supporting infrastructure.

City of Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann said great opportunities would flow from the games, including the development of an athletes’ village that would be converted into social and affordable housing.

He said all councils involved would want to ensure they would receive a fair distribution of state government funds.

“We need to remember that this announcement is very new,” Niemann said.

“The state government is providing regular updates and as a council we’re also considering what this will mean for us, how we will resource our own planning for this event and how we can use our skills and local knowledge to ensure the games are a great success.”

City of Ballarat mayor Daniel Moloney said it was crucial that planning work progressed quickly to prepare for the games.

He said a new stand would be needed at Mars Stadium, which will host the athletics. Ballarat will also need an athletes’ village to house the competitors.

“That planning money this year will be crucial to get it right as well as any land acquisitions required to make it happen,” he said. “If they’re not done this calendar year, it will be difficult to deliver.”

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