Gina Rinehart backs coast-to-coast 2026 Commonwealth Games bid
Gold Coast, Perth mayors propose a co-hosted 2026 Commonwealth Games – backed by the nation’s richest person – following Victoria’s withdrawal.
The mayors of the Gold Coast and Perth have proposed hosting a “coast-to-coast” 2026 Commonwealth Games – backed by the nation’s richest person – to “rescue Australia’s reputation” following the withdrawal of original hosts Victoria under Daniel Andrews.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas – as well as billionaire mining magnate and sports patron Gina Rinehart – have sent a letter this week to Anthony Albanese seeking his support for the idea.
The two cities are more than 4000km apart, but the plan is to host half of the sports including aquatics on the Gold Coast for the first week and then the remaining sports, including track and field, and a possible reintroduction of rowing onto the program, in Perth for the second week.
The bold proposal to include Perth as a co-host comes after the Queensland government recently ruled out a $700m Gold Coast-only Commonwealth Games.
It is understood Mrs Rinehart, who is a patron of swimming, rowing, artistic swimming, and volleyball, as well as executive chair of Hancock Prospecting, Roy Hill and S. Kidman & Co, brought together the two mayors who have agreed to pursue the joint project.
Internationally, big sporting events are moving towards multi-hosts – the FIFA world cup in 2030 will be split across Morocco, Portugal and Spain – as a way to reduce costs and deliver competitions to a broader audience.
Mrs Rinehart and the two mayors wrote in the letter that a coast-to-coast Games would provide Australia with sporting, diplomatic, and political benefits. It reads: “We believe that a coast-to-coast Games presents a special opportunity to showcase Australia and provides an excellent background for you to invite those heads of the Commonwealth you may wish to have further discussions with, and/ or entertain. A background where Australia pulls well above its weight, and shines!”.
The joint hosting would use existing facilities in Perth and the Gold Coast and provide Queensland with a “live run-through” for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
The letter also states that hosting such a Commonwealth Games would foster enthusiasm and community spirit, which is “very important after the Victorian government’s unpopular decision (to cancel the Games)” and at a time when Australians are suffering as the economy declines, inflation is rising and increasing cost-of-living is impacting households.
“The Victorian government’s decision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games was disappointing and a huge blow to Australia’s reputation and to our athletes,’’ the letter reads.
“Australia is meant to be viewed as a successful G20 nation, and the fact that we can’t organise and fund a Commonwealth Games undermines that reputation. We believe that saving the Commonwealth Games via a dual-city approach would be popular and in the national interest, and would not only bring huge benefits to our athletes and cities, but also excitement and lasting advantages to our nation.”
The letter also argues that a coast-to-coast Commonwealth Games would not be as expensive, and help provide some future Olympic facilities, rather than spending $600m for a Papua New Guinea NRL team.
The letter does not detail any costs for the two-state hosting proposal. While existing sports facilities would be used for competition and training, there could be additional costs for the international teams to provide extra staff to cover the split program.
The Prime Minister has not yet replied to the proposal.
The overarching body, the Commonwealth Games Federation, met earlier this month in Singapore and new president Chris Jenkins from Wales said finding a host for the 2026 Games remains the organisation’s focus. He was elected with a mandate to slash cuts for prospective hosts.
The $7bn figure quoted in June by then Victorian premier Mr Andrews as the reason for withdrawing from hosting the Games, which was to have a regional focus, remains questionable.
Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Katie Sadleir said that officials in Australia were very keen to keep the Games in Australia, but there were also ongoing preliminary discussions with three other regions.
A decision whether to postpone the 2026 Games to 2027 and allow any prospective hosts more time to prepare will be made early next year.
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