‘Strong’ offers from other Australian states, nations for 2026 Games: Commonwealth Federation

The Commonwealth Games Federation have revealed other Australian states have approached them about taking over from Victoria.

The Commonwealth Games Federation says Victoria will receive a bill for tens of millions for cancelling the 2026 edition.

The Andrews government will soon get a bill for tens of millions of dollars from the Commonwealth Games Federation after cancelling the games with just eight hours’ notice, blindsiding the London-based organisation.

The federation’s legal team was the first of many stakeholders to be contacted as soon as Victorian Premier Dan Andrews’ decision was relayed to them on Monday, with lawyers poring over the host games contract.

After a flurry of crisis meetings on Tuesday, the Games Federation chief executive Katie Sadleir, who is also on the board of the 2026 organising committee said: “Of course the Commonwealth Games will continue”, revealing that some other Australian states had already been in touch, as well as getting “strong” support from other Commonwealth nations.

“We are working through steps to reach a (financial) settlement (with the Victorian government) and regroup,’’ Ms Sadleir said.

“We have great supporters of Commonwealth movement, and already other cities have come to us. It is such an early stage, the board will sit down and look all options, but this week is getting to a good state in regard to the exit agreement with Victoria.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns said on Tuesday his state would not be making an offer to host the Commonwealth Games.

Lawyers are looking at whether the Victorian government could be liable not only for the costs already incurred, but for substantial damages, and also the additional costs incurred by a future games host because of the short preparation time.

The federation was “absolutely blindsided’’, Ms Sadleir said, with the last board meeting in April seeing a new budget submission which bore no resemblance to the figures now quoted by the Victorian government.

Ms Sadleir said the Commonwealth Games Federation had not been consulted about these escalating costs claimed by the government, nor offered any chance to tweak or fine-tune plans.

She was flabbergasted at the announcement.

“To find out with eight hours’ notice a decision made like this with no ability for the board, no opportunity or debate or ability to look at options, it is very difficult to express in words,’’ she said.

“We are in shock, it is incredibly disappointing … there has not been a lot of time to get our heads lined up about the implications, but it is really disappointing for aspiring athletes and our organising teams, they were well advanced in planning and preparation.’’

The 2026 Games would have been the first for King Charles and Queen Camilla since acceding to the throne, and the games’ patron is Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said “this is something we would not comment on”.

Ms Sadleir said the federation only required two sports to be on the Commonwealth Games program, swimming and athletics, with all others being at the option of the host.

Ms Sadleir said Victorian officials had arrived at her office in late 2021 saying how excited they were to have a unique games, with the regional concept, because the federation’s new, flexible guidelines allowed it to happen.

Commonwealth Games signage at the Showgrounds in Bendigo. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

She said the number of sports and the containment of costs not directly associated with the games — such as housing and improving facilities, were decisions for the Victorian government.

The timing was also unexpected, given the huge success of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games which came in $A115m under its $A1.5billion taxpayer budget.

The Commonwealth Youth games, held in August in Trinidad and Tobago, will be attended by 71 countries.

Ms Sadleir said she was very familiar with the business strategy in Australian sport.

“The 10-year green and gold campaign leading to the Birisbane Olympics, started with the Victorian Commonwealth Games and it is really sad no one saw this coming,” she said.

“It would have been better to have had proper robust discussion if costs were unpalatable. We all should have known about it earlier in the process.’’

Team England said: “We are surprised and disappointed to hear that the Victorian Government has withdrawn from their agreement to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“This is hugely unsettling for Team England athletes and those across the Commonwealth who had Victoria 2026 in their sights.”