Sam Groth: ‘Surely a better way to spend $600m would have been to host a scaled-down version here in Melbourne’

More than $200m of Victorian taxpayers dollars will be handed to Scotland to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the Glaswegians celebrating their free Games.

More than $200m of Victorian taxpayers dollars will be handed over to Scotland to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

But while Glaswegians were celebrating their free Games – which won’t see a cent contributed by the Scottish or UK governments – the announcement has been dubbed a “sad day” for Victoria, which will ultimately pay the brunt of the bill while also losing out on the economic and tourism benefits of the sporting extravaganza.

As few as 10 sports will be on the program for a significantly scaled down event across existing infrastructure in Glasgow.

While the certainty of an event is a welcome relief for both the Games’ brand and the thousands of athletes across Commonwealth countries who compete in the event as a mid-cycle check point on the way to an Olympic Games, many will be anxiously waiting to find out whether their sports survive the cull.

Victoria is losing out on the economic and tourism benefits of the sporting extravaganza. Picture: Getty

Former premier Daniel Andrews’ decision to host the 2026 Games across several regional centres, instead of in Melbourne, led to accusations it was a pork-barrelling ploy to sure up seats ahead of the 2022 election.

Mr Andrews stunned the world by later dumping the deal in July last year, claiming the event’s budget had blown out to $6-7bn.

The Victorian Auditor-General this year determined the decision to pull out of the event had cost a whopping $589m.

When Mr Andrews broke his own contract to host the 2026 Games, it cost Victorian taxpayers $380m in legal settlement fees, which was given to the Commonwealth Games Federation and the local arm of the sporting body – Commonwealth Games Australia.

Daniel Andrews stunned the world by announcing the cancellation of the Games in July last year. Picture: Ian Currie

In total, those two organisations have funnelled almost $205m into the Scottish event.

This means Victorian taxpayers have effectively forked out a huge percentage of the budget needed to host an event on the other side of the world.

Responding to the development from Delhi, where she is on day four of a five-day visit to India, Premier Jacinta Allan – who was at the time the Minister responsible for the Games – refused to be drawn on her personal view of the Games going ahead, or the fact that Victorians would fund the event.

“That’s really a matter for the Commonwealth Games’ organisers,” she said.

Jacinta Allan was quizzed on the Games development during her trip to India. Picture: Supplied

“The arrangements that have been struck with the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Scottish Government are a matter for them.

“What we’re focused on right now is delivering those legacy outcomes, which are always our focus and priority, in terms of thinking about the Commonwealth Games.”

Opposition tourism, sport and events spokesman Sam Groth said the entire fiasco had embarrassed Victoria on the world stage.

“It’s a sad day for Victoria. Surely a better way to spend $600m would have been to host a scaled-down version here in Melbourne that would have directly supported Victoria’s visitor economy and our local athletes,” he said.

As few as 10 sports will be on the program for a significantly scaled down event in Glasgow in 2026. Picture: Adam Head

But Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips – who earlier this year spectacularly accused Mr Andrews of attempting to “trash” the Commonwealth Games’ brand – said it was a much needed “reset” for the Games’ brand after the Victorian government’s botched handling of the event.

Asked if the saga was embarrassing for Victoria, Mr Phillips responded: “You probably have to ask the Premier that question, not me”, but said he was “very optimistic” about the future of the Games’.

“The fact that there’s such a strong commitment around the Commonwealth to make sure these Games’ happen is a real testament to the strength of the brand,” he added. “Whether the Victorian government has a damaged brand, that’s again a question for somebody else.”

Mr Phillips said CGA, which has 22 member sports, would ensure the sports that missed out on taking part in the event would be kept “part of our family”, but he could not guarantee future funding.

Athletics and swimming were the only guaranteed “core” sports locked in for Glasgow, with an announcement expected in October. But track cycling, squash and netball were among the sports confident the mix of venues would accommodate their sports.

Originally published as Sam Groth: ‘Surely a better way to spend $600m would have been to host a scaled-down version here in Melbourne’