Victorian taxpayers might foot the invoice for Scotland to host the 2026 Commonwealth Video games utilizing compensation cash from dumping the occasion.
In July final yr, the state authorities introduced it could now not host the 2026 Video games, which have been set to be held in regional cities, after former premier Daniel Andrews claimed forecast bills had almost doubled to no less than $6bn.
Commonwealth Video games officers have scrambled to discover a alternative host lower than two years out, with Glasgow touted because the possible metropolis to host a “revised” Video games.
Commonwealth Video games Scotland believes it might host the occasion at a fraction of that price and is spruiking an “innovative, cost-effective and sustainable” mannequin.
It could be funded virtually completely from $200m of Victorian taxpayer cash secured as compensation for the state’s internet hosting withdrawal.
“The project … does not require – nor has Commonwealth Games Scotland asked for – any underwriting from Scottish or UK governments,” the organisation stated.
The occasion is estimated to price about $220m total, with business avenues anticipated to cowl excellent prices.
“Unlike other major multi-sport events, the concept has been specifically designed to ensure that there is no requirement from the public purse to deliver the Games,” the Scottish committee stated.
Glasgow final hosted the Video games in 2014, when 18 occasions have been contested, however the 2026 Video games shall be revised to 10 sports activities.
It’ll even be held throughout a handful of present sports activities and lodging venues to minimise transport, rent and safety prices.
The choice on whether or not Glasgow will host the 2026 Video games has been within the arms of the Scottish authorities since Might.
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The Commonwealth Video games Scotland chair, Ian Reid, stated the occasion offered an opportunity to convey wide-ranging advantages to the nation and to show down the Victorian authorities’s cash could be “short-sighted”.
Victoria’s Labor authorities on Sunday defended its resolution to dump the Video games, saying $6bn was an excessive amount of for a 12-day sporting occasion.
“When the Commonwealth Games needed a host city to step in at the last minute, we were willing to help – but not at any price, and not without a big lasting benefit for regional Victoria,” a authorities spokesperson stated.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, ought to have stepped in to make sure Australia wasn’t left “internationally embarrassed”, the Nationals chief, David Littleproud, stated.
“This just adds to the embarrassment that the Victorian government imposed on Australia by making an election promise to run the Games, to try and win votes during the election, and then, when it all became too hard, decided to cut and run,” he advised 9’s Right this moment Present.
Selections to bid for, plan after which withdraw from the Video games finally price state taxpayers greater than $589m, together with $380m in compensation to organisers, with “no discernible benefit”, the auditor basic, Andrew Greaves, discovered.
