2026 Commonwealth Games Bid Abandoned by Gold Coast Mayor

The Gold Coast in Australia has decided to withdraw its bid to host the next Commonwealth Games, ending any chance of the tournament being held in the country again. Despite the mayor's insistence that the city could host the event, both the federal and state governments, as well as the mayor's own deputy, rejected supporting it. Organizers have warned of the possibility of postponing or canceling the upcoming Games. The Commonwealth Games is a multinational sporting event held every four years, with over 70 participating nations or territories. The Commonwealth Games Federation had struggled to find a host for the 2026 Games before Victoria volunteered, but it later withdrew its hosting plans. The Canadian province of Alberta, the only contender for the 2030 Games, also dropped out. Strong arguments have been made against hosting the Games, citing rising costs and declining global interest. The estimated cost of the Victorian Games ballooned to over A$6 billion, far exceeding the initial estimate of A$2.6 billion. The Gold Coast mayor proposed a "streamlined" version of the event, but failed to gain support from the Queensland or federal governments. The decision to withdraw the bid has been met with disappointment, with concerns raised about Australia's reputation. Commonwealth Games Australia expressed its desire to keep the Games in the country and is currently exploring alternative solutions.