Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate abandons bid to host 2026 Commonwealth Games
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says Australia will be damaged after his proposal to save the Games garnered zero state and federal support.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate says Australia’s reputation on the world stage is “in tatters” after dropping the region’s bid to take over hosting duties for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, leaving the event in limbo.
State and federal governments offered no support to Mr Tate’s $700m proposal for a “scaled-down” Games, made in July following the Victorian government’s shock cancellation of the international sporting event over cost blowouts.
Mr Tate wrote to new Commonwealth Games Federation president Chris Jenkins last weekend advising that the city would be “moving forward”, which the mayor said was despite “overwhelming” support from locals, sports administrators, businesses and athletes.
“We gave it a good shot for the last five months, knocking on doors regarding the hosting of the Commonwealth Games 2026,” Mr Tate said.
“It appears the state and federal governments are immovable.
“Sadly, at the same time, our country’s reputation as a place that reneges on a global sports contract remains in tatters.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk consistently said she would not support a bid as her focus remained on the decade-long run-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
Federal Sport Minister Anika Wells previously had communicated to Mr Tate she was open to supporting the Gold Coast so long as Ms Palaszczuk was onside.
Mr Tate’s campaign to host the Commonwealth Games hastily began after Daniel Andrews, the Victorian premier at the time, shocked the country and the Commonwealth Games Federation by cancelling the regional event three years out after costs more than doubled to $7bn.
The Gold Coast’s $700m proposal required no direct funding from the state, using existing infrastructure built for the 2018 Games and hotels for athlete accommodation. Instead, it asked for “in-kind support” in the form of additional policing and transport resources.
Mr Tate said Ms Palaszczuk refused to meet and discuss the bid plan.
The Gold Coast proposal had the backing of rich listers Gerry Harvey and Katie Page.
Mining magnate Gina Rinehart also threw her support behind an alternative “Coast to Coast” bid in which Mr Tate and his Perth counterpart, Basil Zempilas, would team up to split hosting duties despite being more than 4000km apart. A letter signed by the trio argued the plan would offer a “live run-through” for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and benefit athletes.
Gold Coast council will focus on securing other headline events to drive the local economy.
The future of the international sporting event is in jeopardy, with no host cities booked in for upcoming Commonwealth Games.
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