Liberals repeat call for Games to open and close in Geelong

THE Victorian Liberals have doubled down on their call from July that GMHBA Stadium must host both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Labor confirmed last weekend that Geelong’s major stadium would be the venue for the end point of Victoria 2026, but the Liberals announced today (Thursday, November 3) that as the 12-day Games are being touted as “the regional Games”, the only way for “the entire Geelong region (to) reap the full benefits” would be to move the opening ceremony from the MCG to GMHBA Stadium under a Matt Guy Government.

Geelong will host nine sports and the Liberals are also flagging changes to the Victoria 2026 venues to be built here, which Labor costed at $292 million to construct.

Instead of building a new aquatics centre in Armstrong Creek for swimmers, para swimmers and divers, the Liberals will instead build a Kardinia Park Aquatic Centre to “create a truly world-class international sporting precinct”.

The multi-sports facility to host the artistic gymnastics and weightlifting events would be shifted from Waurn Ponds to Armstrong Creek.

Labor has proposed building an athlete’s village south of Waurn Ponds Station, but the Liberals have not explicitly stated if they will adopt this plan or relocate the athletes’ village elsewhere should they form government.

The Liberals have not yet revealed how much their revised plan for the Games in Geelong would cost.

Shadow Minister for Sport Cindy McLeish said the Opening and Closing ceremonies must be held in regional Victoria to make it a truly regional Victorian Commonwealth Games.

“Instead of launching the regional games in our capital city, let’s take this chance to put Geelong and all it has to offer on the world stage.

“There is no better choice to kick off regional Victoria’s Commonwealth Games than in largest stadium outside of Melbourne.”

Shadow Minister for Housing, Richard Riordan, said the athletes’ villages would be repurposed into affordable and quality housing once the Games were run and won.

“This is a common-sense move that will put a roof over hundreds of families’ heads.”

Liberal candidate for Geelong James Bennett-Hullin said the Andrews Labor Government was missing a golden opportunity.

“Only under a Matt Guy Government will Geelong truly showcase what it has to offer, while setting it up for the future.”

Liberal candidate for Bellarine Donnie Grigau said work would immediately get under way to deliver the world class aquatic facilities.

“Our commitment will support many local jobs during and after construction of these facilities and provide real solutions to the lack of options in the area.”

Liberal candidate for South Barwon Andrew Katos said the region had so much to offer.

“From Armstrong Creek through to Highton, this region will be placed on the world stage – right where it should be.”