Melbourne has emerged as a likely host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the Victorian government confirming an approach from a desperate Commonwealth Games Federation faced with the embarrassment that no other city in its community of more than 50 nations is willing to bid for host-city status.

A senior Victorian government official revealed that following an approach from the CGF, feasibility studies are under way to determine if the state can justify hosting the event, with a focus on regional centres.

The Australian team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at the MCG.Credit:Vince Caligiuri

With Melbourne the only city interested and the Games only four years away, the state government can dictate its terms, such as the 5000 competing athletes being housed mainly in existing hotels, rather than having accommodation built.

Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips – bound by confidentiality provisions – said: “For a number of months now, we have been talking to a number of states about hosting the 2026 Games.”

Phillips, like his colleagues in other Commonwealth countries, has found it difficult asking governments to commit to major events during a pandemic.

Perth recently withdrew from the process as West Australian Premier Mark McGowan insulates his state from the COVID-19 pandemic and the city lacks an established site for a Games Village.

Adelaide publicly announced some time ago it was not proceeding with a bid.

Sydney showed serious interest in staging the 2026 Games at Homebush’s Olympic Park, particularly following the successful running of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. However, the NSW government then became embroiled in stadium wars and is now only interested in hosting international events in major sports that can fill expensive arenas and provide economic benefits.

Brisbane has already been chosen as host of the 2032 Summer Olympics, meaning a 2026 Commonwealth Games in Australia would be an ideal lead-in, guaranteeing support from the Australian Olympic Committee.

Melbourne, with its established sporting facilities and its success in hosting the 2006 Games, is a logical choice, particularly given the short four-year timeframe now needed.

A CGF decision on the host city for 2026 was to be made in 2019 but the pandemic and the default of Durban as host city for 2022 changed the timetable. Birmingham, originally scheduled as 2026 host, filled the void left by Durban, thereby creating an embarrassing vacancy.

Canada has flagged interest in bidding for the 2030 Games, which would be held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the first Games (then called Empire), which were in Hamilton, Ontario.

A senior Victorian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “We’ve had discussions with the CGF and we are doing some preliminary studies to see if it works. We’ve got a short timeframe and we need to have the facilities up to speed. But it would have a regional focus.”

This is consistent with an election pledge of the incumbent Labor government that a future Commonwealth Games in the state would embrace regional centres.

The Queen and Prince Philip during their tour of Australia in 2006 to open the Commonwealth Games.Credit:Chris Lane

It is also consistent with the planning for the 2032 Summer Olympics, which will have a focus on south-east Queensland, not simply Brisbane.

Bidding for international tournaments these past six years has taken a different path as governments become more cost- and regional-oriented. Sports such as netball and basketball can be staged in regional centres, such as Ballarat and Bendigo, where existing smaller stadiums create a superior atmosphere, particularly for TV coverage.

The days of “white elephant” sporting arenas are over, as governments, particularly local councils, invest in multi-use facilities suitable for staging a number of events concurrently.

Melbourne and its regional cities, including Geelong, where considerable investment in stadiums and facilities has been made by all three levels of government, could stage another Commonwealth Games in its 20 sports with limited additional expenditure on infrastructure.

With Queen Elizabeth now aged 95, a Melbourne Commonwealth Games potentially opened by King Charles would have a degree of poignancy.

While Melbourne has had its reputation as the sporting capital of the known universe damaged by the Novak Djokovic saga, the speed with which Victorian government officials are working to justify staging the XXIIIrd Commonwealth Games indicates an intention to hold on to the mantle.

“We’re looking at a 2026 Games, but we’ve made no commitment,” the senior government official said.

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