Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips to go to states in last-ditch effort to keep games in Australia

The Commonwealth Games boss has reissued pleas to save the sporting event, confirming his plans to petition the states to keep the Games in Australia.

Commonwealth Games Australia boss Craig Phillips has yet to give up hope of Australia hosting the 2026 Games and says he plans on making his case to the state premiers over the coming weeks.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews controversially canned the Games in his state, citing cost forecasts that had hit $7bn, about $4.4bn more than the original costing of $2.6bn.

Mr Phillips maintained the figure was an “unfair exaggeration” and said it was an “unfair distraction” for future hosts.

“It obviously supported a narrative of cancelling the Games. Maybe those numbers exist, we haven’t seen them,” he told reporters on Friday.

Although every premier quickly moved to reject their state from hosting the 2026 Games after Mr Andrews’ announcement, the CGA chief said “there was always hope”. He maintained “any capital city” or smaller city had the capability to host the Games.

“We’ll look at working with any state that wants to have a conversation with us about what the Games could look like and what the costs may be, but certainly the numbers out there at the moment are highly inflated,” he said.

“There are other models that can apply. The reality is the Games are flexible and we have a strategic road map that makes it flexible.”

Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips hasn’t given up hope of Australia hosting the 2026 Games. Picture: Sky News

Although he couldn’t be pressed to give a number on how much hosting the sporting would cost, he said it would be determined by factors like the scale of the Games, existing venues available to the state and the location.

However, before the next host city can be announced – if there is to be one – the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Victorian government need to reach a compensation figure over the state terminating the contract.

Compensation negotiations for the Victorian government terminating the contract are still ongoing. Picture: Jason Edwards/ NCA NewsWire

Mr Phillips said a future funding model could involve Victoria’s compensation fee being used to “offset” the cost for the next host country.

While Mr Andrews’ announcement was still “very raw” for Australia’s sporting community, Mr Phillips said the disappointment would not cloud the Commonwealth Youth Games, with Australia sending 76 athletes to Trinidad and Tobago.

“We owe it to the 76 athletes going to those Games to look after them, give them a great experience and not have this overshadow their experience,” he said.

“Many of them are just starting their journey, and we want to make sure they start off the right way.”

Retired Paralympic swimmer Ellie Cole said while Victoria’s decision was “disappointing”, the preparation of athletes looking to compete in the 2026 Games would remain the same.

She said athletes had been in touch with the mental health referral network offered by the Australian Sports Commission.

“When plans change, it can come as quite a shock to the athletes,” she said.

“Not knowing if a performance may or may not go ahead can certainly take quite a personal toll on your plans as you prepare as an athlete.”