England athletes celebrate victory during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Credit: Getty Images/Tom Dulat
The Commonwealth Games have been warned to take «immediate and drastic action» to avoid a total withdrawal after a second potential event host pulled out within a month.
Just weeks after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as a confirmed host for 2026, the Canadian province of Alberta also cited cost concerns as it withdrew its plans for 2030. There is currently no firm bid for any future edition, leaving the Games facing an existential crisis just months after King Charles's coronation.
Now this event seems to be losing its appeal at the international level. athletes and former competition organizers are calling for urgent reforms.
Sharron Davis, who won two golds, two silvers and two bronzes in the 1978 and 1990 championships, expressed her desperation, saying the competition was her «favorite competition» . “It would be a terrible shame if they stopped,” she told Telegraph Sport, calling for a new event that “concentrates the athletes” and uses the existing infrastructure.
Another senior former official involved with the Games Organization also said a radical new approach is needed if Birmingham 2022 is not to be the last Games in history. Birmingham replaced Durban only after the South African city missed the deadline.
“This is another huge blow and the Games brand has been hit hard in terms of reputation,” the executive said, speaking on condition of anonymity. «At this point, immediate and drastic action is required from the CGF [Commonwealth Games Federation] to save the event.»
Sources close to the British government have expressed opposition in the past to the prospect of saving the games again. in 2026. The costs are estimated at an absolute minimum of £1 billion. Queensland has also turned down requests to host him in preparation for the 2032 Olympics.
The former Commonwealth chief added: “If the Games continue, and there are no guarantees now, they will have to look very different, and it is clear that they will be much smaller in scale and cost. It is becoming increasingly likely that Birmingham 2022 will be the last major multi-sport games, given the lack of desire on the part of governments to host competitions in their current format.”
Alberta did not qualify for the Games, but was simply considering whether to apply offer while CGF struggles to find a replacement for Victoria in three years.
But Alberta's departure comes just months after Hamilton, Ontario, which hosted the first Games in 1930, halted its centenary efforts due to a lack of government support.
The England women's ice hockey team celebrates victory at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Reuters/Stoyan Nenov
Alberta Tourism and Sports Minister Joseph Shaw said on Friday that the 2030 bill, estimated at CAD$2.7 billion (£1.5 billion), is «too much of a burden on the province.»
The UK swims great In response, Davies said the organizers now need to think about how the event can «focus on the athletes and not all the minor events and very expensive opening/closing ceremonies.»
She pointed to events such as Glasgow 2014, which were staged for around £500m, a fraction of Victoria's projected 2026 spending. “Reuse existing facilities and student residences,” she said. «There is no need for purpose-built athletics camps.»
Losing the event would be a big loss for the sport, she explained, as it was «friendly games, but with fierce competition in swimming of course.»
While the UK is concerned about the prospect of saving the 2026 Games, Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said he was open to Scotland playing its part as a potential co-host.
Furthermore, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said which will support the bid to host the capital in 2026, but any final decision must be made by the government.
In Canada, the Government of Alberta has provided up to $2 million and the City of Edmonton an additional $1 million to explore the possibility of hosting the Games.
“The Government of Alberta has informed Commonwealth Sport Canada that they have decided to terminate the study of the 2030 Commonwealth Games bid,” Commonwealth Sport Canada said in a statement.
“We believe that the recent decision of the Victorian Government withdrawing from the 2026 Commonwealth Games was a major factor in Alberta's decision, as well as the over-reliance on taxpayer support for the planning and hosting of the Games.
«Commonwealth Sport Canada is deeply disappointed with the Alberta government's decision, but respects their right to accept it solution».
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek's office said in a statement emailed to the CBC that without the support of the province, the application was completed. «The provincial government's decision to withdraw from the application process for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Alberta effectively ends the application and participation of the city of Calgary,» the statement said.
Q&A: What's up with the Games, who can host them in 2030? 
An independent report showed that last year's Birmingham Games benefited the UK economy by £870.7m. happened?
Just a couple of weeks after the Australian state of Victoria abruptly withdrew from the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to rising costs, the Alberta government has announced it is ending its efforts to host the 2030 events in the cities of Calgary and Edmonton. .
Alberta Tourism and Sports Minister Joseph Shaw disagreed with the proposed price of up to £1.57 billion, a bill he said would fall largely on the shoulders of taxpayers.
How bad is this latest news?< p>Alberta is not won the Games, she was just contemplating whether to submit an offer while the Commonwealth Games Federation is struggling to find a replacement for Victoria in three years.
But Alberta takes a step forward. months after Hamilton, Ontario, home of the first Games in 1930, put its centennial event on hold due to lack of government support.
Right now, the Commonwealth Games don't have a host for 2026 , one less candidate in the shallow pool of options for 2030, and their overall viability and relevance in today's world is under increasing scrutiny.
What can be done to get bidders interested?
Organizers have tried to give hosts flexibility to keep costs down, while the CGF is committed to partnering with international sports federations to ensure its innovations are showcased globally.
Birmingham 2022 breaks new ground with the introduction of 3×3 basketball and women's cricket The T20 also made its debut at a multi-sport event and set world attendance records.
Is it too expensive to host the Commonwealth Games?
The costs are set. Victoria's allotment of up to £3.6bn, if correct, is striking and far exceeds the cost of the 2022 Birmingham production, which the British government estimates is £778m, just over half of what alienated Alberta .
However, CGF claims that Victoria's approach to hosting was a factor in some of these costs. For example, she decided not to use the existing sports facilities in Melbourne in favor of creating temporary sites in the regional centers of the states, which she planned to use for the Games.
Victoria was the first host of the Games to benefit from the new CGF hosting roadmap which, among other things, reduced the number of compulsory sports from 16 to two and eliminated the requirement for an individual athlete village.
British Government and Birmingham City Council do not agree that hosting the Games should be a money hole.
An independent report published in January this year says Birmingham 2022 has contributed £870.7m to the UK economy, of which more than half of the resulting economic impact (£453.7m) will benefit businesses and communities. in the West Midlands.
Who can host in 2026?
CGF Chief Executive Katie Sadler said last month that all options, including the UK, will be considered.
«The UK is a fantastic host and we would be very open to talking to them about it if they were interested,» she told the PA news agency.
Official Prime Minister Rishi Sunaka's spokesman expressed hope that a «viable solution» would be found to host the Games in Australia. Asked if the British government would back the UK bid, the spokesman said: «We are getting ahead of ourselves a bit.»
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf told the PA: «Let's see what's possible, but I think it will be quite difficult.”
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