Uncertain Future For Commonwealth Games
[Written by Stephen Wright]
The Commonwealth Games is facing an uncertain future after the Gold Coast dropped its bid to host the 2026 Games.
Tom Tate, major of the coastal city, which hosted the Games in 2018, where Bermuda triathlete Dame Flora Duffy won the gold medal in the women’s triathlon, floated the idea of holding “a streamlined” version of the event, sharing it with the city of Perth.
However, the federal and state governments have ruled out supporting the event.
“We did our best and that’s all people can expect,” Tate said in a statement.
Organisers of the multi-sport event, which was held in Birmingham in 20202, where Duffy also won gold, may have to postpone or cancel the next Games.
The Games are for athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, including Bermuda, and is held in every four years.
It has only ever been cancelled during World War Two.
Australia’s southern state of Victoria withdrew from hosting the 2026 Games in July because of the rising costs.
Canada’s Alberta province also dropped its plans to host the 2030 Games.
Aside from the soaring costs of hosting the Games, there have also been concerns about it global image and relevance in the modern world.
