Ash Bolt
The City of Greater Geelong has thrown its support behind a Victorian bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Last week it was revealed the state government was considering a bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, 20 years after it last hosted the event and just eight years after the last Australian Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
No host city has yet been chosen for the Games, despite plans to make the selection in 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was reported last week the Commonwealth Games Federation had approached the state government to host the games in Melbourne, after receiving little interest from other cities.
Premier Daniel Andrews said there was no commitment made to hosting the Games but it was being explored.
“What you can all be certain of, and what I think Victorians know, is that the government and Visit Victoria, we’re out there every day working as hard as we can to get all the big major events to come to the major events capital of our nation,” he said.
There has been speculation that the Games, if held in Victoria, could be also be spread across larger regional centres, including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton, as well as Melbourne.
City of Greater Geelong deputy mayor Trent Sullivan said the city was supportive of an investigation into the option.
“We support detailed consideration of a Victorian government bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” he said.
“The City of Greater Geelong has previously worked with other regional centres across Victoria to consider the feasibility of a ‘fully regional’ Commonwealth Games bid.
“Hosting competition across major regional centres, as well as Melbourne, would deliver a range of benefits for Geelong and the wider region.
“Geelong has a strong record of hosting world-class and elite competition across a range of sports involved in the Commonwealth Games.
“Our stadiums and facilities are suitable for sports such as cricket, rugby sevens, athletics, basketball, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, judo and table tennis.
“We also have the ability to host road cycling, triathlons and marathons.”
Cr Sullivan said there would be noticeable economic benefit to the Geelong region if it was able to host events.
“Commonwealth Games generally attract about 5000 athletes from more than 70 nations,” he said.
“The economic benefits of hosting the Games are enormous and Geelong is ready to play a key role in delivering it if the government proceeds with a bid.”
The city had previously supported a regional Victoria bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
That bid would have seen events hosted in Geelong, Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat, Nagambie, Traralgon, Warrnambool, Wodonga and Yarrawonga.
It was put on hold last year due to the pandemic.
