GAMES OVER: 2026 Commonwealth Games cancelled

July 18, 2023 BY Billy Higgins

An Armstrong Creek aquatics centre is among the major infrastructure projects required for Geelong to host the Commonwealth Games. Photo: SUPPLIED

UPDATED: The 2026 Commonwealth Games slated for regional Victoria will not go ahead, but promised infrastructure projects will remain.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced this morning that cost blowouts meant Victoria couldn’t afford to deliver the sporting event.

The state government had budgeted $2.6 billion to deliver the Games, but Mr Andrews said today that revised estimates had costed the event as around $6 billion-$7 billion.

“I’ve made a lot of tough choices in this job, but this isn’t one of them.

“This is all cost and no benefit.”

Government ministers said that project previously promised under the $2.6 billion allocation – including new housing and sporting infrastructure – would still go ahead despite the cancellation.

More to come.