Sport leader to chair Games board

OUTGOING Richmond Football Club president Peggy O’Neal will play a lead role in the delivery of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The industry trailblazer, who was the first female AFL club president when she took the Tigers’ reins in 2013, will chair the Games organising committee as part of a board of leading sports and public executives, and members of the international and Australian Games bodies.

“I love sport and what it means for communities across Victoria,” Ms O’Neal said.

“I am delighted to be part of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games and to work with the board, to ensure that the diverse voices in our state are heard as we make decisions throughout the delivery of the Games.”

Other appointments to the committee included social equity advocate, First Nations woman and Western Bulldogs director Belinda Duarte, and finance leader Lisa Gray.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin and CEO Katie Sadlier will represent the international federation, while their counterparts from Commonwealth Games Australia, Ben Houston and Craig Phillips, will also join the director’s board.

Government ministers and staff said they were excited to work with the new appointees.

“I am looking forward to working with Peggy and the board to deliver a fantastic Commonwealth Games across regional Victoria and we will be taking the next steps in the coming months to finalise the sporting program, village and venue locations,” organising committee CEO Jeroen Weimar said.

Geelong will be one of four host regions for the 2026 regional Victorian Games, alongside Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland.

The state government has committed $3 billion for delivery of the event, which will include extensive infrastructure investment including for sporting facilities, housing and transport.

Victoria 2026 will involve a Queen’s Baton relay, warm-up tournaments and training camps, a cultural program and live sites at host cities alongside its program of sports.