Athletics Australia has warned the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games will have repercussions carry over to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics Games.
The sporting body will face the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the failed Games bid after former premier Dan Andrews said it would no longer host the event.
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Reported first by AAP, Athletics Australia will say in its submission the cancellation will tarnish Australia’s reputation and legacy, while also hurting athletes.
“The upheaval this decision has caused for athletics in Victoria and Australia, as well as the Commonwealth Games is immeasurable, with a blatant disregard for the significant logistical, emotional, financial and reputational damage caused,” the submission says.
“None of these impacts will be confined to Victoria. They will carry forward to Brisbane 2032.”
The news of Athletics Australia’s submission comes as the United Kingdom said it would not bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games – the British government citing it would not provide money for the bid.
Substantial financial support from the UK government allowed Birmingham to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games after Durban was stripped of hosting rights in 2017.
The Guardian said it had been informed by multiple sources there was no eagerness to once again provide money to rescue the Games.
A Commonwealth Games Federation spokesperson has urged for patience while a new host city is determined.
“Since the sudden withdrawal of Victoria in July 2023 as host of the 2026 Games, the Commonwealth Games Federation has been working tirelessly with Commonwealth Games Associations to find a new host who would be able to step in at such short notice,” the spokesperson said.
“We are in active conversations with a number of potential hosts across the Commonwealth and hope to provide an update on those discussions in early 2024.”