- Victoria has withdrawn from hosting the Commonwealth Games
- It sparked anger and concern about the event’s future.
The Scottish government is close to agreeing to Glasgow hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Scottish Government will meet Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) officials later on Monday in crucial talks over the future of the multi-sport event.
CGA has offered a multi-million pound investment, the missing piece in Scotland’s funding puzzle for Glasgow to host the 2026 edition.
The Scottish government is expected to formally accept Australia’s bid at Monday’s meeting, clearing the way for Glasgow to be the host city, as it successfully did in 2014.
Both the Scottish and UK governments are refusing to use public money to allow Glasgow to host the next edition after Victoria pulled out of hosting last year.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is donating almost $200 million to Scotland for the organisation, money that will come from a $380 million compensation from the Victorian government.
Scotland has asked the UK government to fund the Games and provide around $4.5 million to cover any additional security costs.
The UK refused and the Scottish government also ruled out using public money.
Commonwealth Games Australia has pledged a major investment in the Glasgow Games
The Scottish government is expected to officially accept Australia’s kind offer.
That prompted CGA chairman Ben Houston to table an Australian bid for a “multi-million-dollar investment.”
The Australian offer has not been specified but is understood to be close to the $4.5 million Scotland wanted from the UK.
The CGF has backed Australia’s offer.
“We congratulate Commonwealth Games Australia for making this generous multi-million pound offer,” CGF president Chris Jenkins said in a statement ahead of Australia’s meeting with the Scottish government.
And government sources told BBC Scotland: “If we remain convinced that it will not be necessary to open the public purse to pay for these Games, then there is growing confidence that Monday will bring good news.”
The upcoming edition in Glasgow will be a scaled-down version of the previous Games, featuring 10 to 13 sports – about a third fewer than in Birmingham, England, in 2022.
The Glasgow Games will be held at existing venues and Australian funding is expected to help cover any additional policing and security costs.
Victoria withdrew as host of the 2026 Games in July 2023 due to anticipated cost overruns
Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Games in July last year, citing projected cost increases from $2-3 billion to $6-7 billion.
A subsequent audit found Victoria’s decision was based on poor accounting, while other Australian states and territories declined to host the 2026 edition.
The Victorian government has agreed to pay $380 million in compensation to the CGF, with $200 million of that offered to Scotland after countries including Malaysia and Singapore rejected the offer.
Victoria became the second consecutive Commonwealth Games host country to fail to honour its commitment.
In 2015, Durban was named host of the 2022 Games, but 17 months later the South African city was stripped of the Games due to financial problems and missed deadlines.
Birmingham then took over as hosts in 2022.