2026 Commonwealth Games at renewed risk of cancellation as Malaysia reject £100m offer to take over as hosts

The 2026 Commonwealth Games are at renewed risk of cancellation after Malaysia rejected a £100m bid to take over as hosts.

The quadrennial event was thrown into chaos last summer when the Australian state of Victoria pulled out of hosting it due to rising costs.

Last week it emerged that the Commonwealth Games Federation had offered Malaysia the chance to host the Games and would make £100m available for ‘financial and strategic support’.

However, even the nine-figure sum has not been enough to persuade the Malaysian government, which said the offer ‘would not cover the total cost of hosting a large-scale sporting event’.

Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh added: ‘The government wants to focus on the development of sport as well as the welfare and well-being of the people.’

It leaves the CGF back at square one in their desperate quest to find a new host for the Games in just two years’ time.

Singapore is ‘assessing the feasibility’ of hosting the event for the first time, but the UK has already ruled out hosting them again so soon after Birmingham 2022.

If a new host cannot be found, the Games will have to be canceled for the first time since the Second World War.

A CGF spokesman said: ‘We are disappointed that Malaysia has decided not to submit a bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and thank them for their work and commitment to the Commonwealth Sports Movement to date.

‘The confidential process to determine a host continues with other interested Commonwealth Games Associations.’

The CGF must also find a host for the 2030 Games after Alberta, Canada withdrew their bid.