GAMES OVER: 2026 Commonwealth Games cancelled

Price of gold: Premier Daniel Andrews announced that regional Victoria was host the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Ballarat last April. Photo: FILE
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.