Singapore assessing 'feasibility of invite' to host 2026 Commonwealth Games
"We welcome innovative proposals and are in positive discussions with potential hosts," said a spokesperson for the Commonwealth Games Federation.
A view of the fireworks during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Aug 8, 2022. (File photo: Reuters)
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
SINGAPORE: Singapore is “currently assessing the feasibility” of an invitation by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to stage the 2026 edition of the Games.
In response to CNA’s queries, Commonwealth Games Singapore (CGS) and Sport Singapore (SportSG) said on Thursday (Mar 14) that during last November’s general assembly, CGF invited all member associations – including Singapore – to express interest in hosting the next Games.
The assembly, which was held in Singapore, was convened four months after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out as hosts of the 2026 Games, citing the projected cost overruns.
Daniel Andrews, the then-state premier, said that the cost of the Games, could spiral to more than A$7 billion (US$4.8 billion) from a budgeted A$2.6 billion if they went ahead with the quadrennial multi-sport event.
"I will not take money out of hospitals and schools to fund an event that is three times the cost as estimated and budgeted for last year,” he added.
Victoria’s decision to withdraw as hosts and the lack of an obvious alternative after Australia's Gold Coast pulled its bid to step in as a replacement has triggered debate about the future of the Games, which was last held in Birmingham, UK in 2022.
According to the British government, the Birmingham Games' budget was £778 million (US$995 million) and the 2026 Games in Victoria - had it gone ahead - was forecast to be four times that.
"INNOVATIVE PROPOSALS" ARE WELCOME
Since the inaugural edition in 1930, the Games has only twice been held in Asia – Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and New Delhi in 2010 – with hosting duties largely split between the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
During this year’s Budget Speech, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced plans to bring more major sporting events to Singapore, with the country setting aside S$165 million (US$124 million) over the next four years to achieve that goal.
One such upcoming event is the World Aquatics Championships in 2025, making Singapore the first Southeast Asian country to do so.
Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong said Singapore's athletes will not be the only ones to gain from the move to position the country as a choice destination for sports events, noting that it will also boost economic growth and global recognition.
Singapore has hosted large-scale multi-sports events before, including the 2015 SEA Games and the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics.
In 2022, the country lost out to Tokyo to hold the 2025 World Athletics Championships but a SportsSG spokesperson then said Singapore will continue to pursue sporting events that are aligned to its "strategic interests".
A CGF spokesperson told CNA on Wednesday that the federation welcomes "innovative proposals and are in positive discussions with potential hosts".
While no further details were provided on the other potential host cities of the 2026 Games, the spokesperson added that the federation aims to provide an update on the process and give "greater clarity to our stakeholders and athletes as soon as possible".
Related:
COULD MALAYSIA BE IN THE RUNNING?
The Olympic Council of Malaysia said on Monday that the CGF has “offered Malaysia the opportunity to replace Victoria as hosts of the Commonwealth Games in 2026”.
"The offer includes significant financial investment of £100 million (US$130 million) to support the local delivery and legacy planning of the 2026 edition."
Mohamad Norza Zakaria, president of the Commonwealth Games Association of Malaysia, called it a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ... which will build on the success of Kuala Lumpur 1998 and put Malaysia back onto the world sporting map".
A CGF spokesperson also noted Malaysia’s “fantastic track record delivering sporting events, and the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur were hugely successful”.
"We are encouraged by their early concepts of building on this legacy through use of many of the same world-class facilities."
The spokesperson added that the £100 million of "financial and strategic support" was on offer for any potential host as part of the Victoria withdrawal settlement.
Besides the 2026 edition, the CGF is also looking for a host for the 2030 event after the Canadian province of Alberta withdrew its support for a bid in August last year, with the Canadian city of Hamilton also scuttling its bid.
