The clock is ticking for Australia to find a host city for the Commonwealth Games in 2026 before the baton is passed to another country.
Australia has been given has three months to find a solution as three other possible host countries appear on the horizon.
“We have been working intensely with Commonwealth Games Australia,” said Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Katie Sadleir.
“They are very, very keen to keep the Games in Australia and so we’re working to support them with their inquiries.”
Sadleir said they have also started preliminary conversations with three other regions about hosting the event.
“But our aim is to be in a situation early in the new year to make a call on where a Games might go in 2026, 2027 or whether or not we might do something a bit different,” she said.
Craig Phillips, the newly appointed chief executive of Commonwealth Games Australia, said any host city in Australia would still need “a lot of state government support”.
“Obviously we’re preparing for conversations with different states, the work continues between us and the CGF in terms of framing what that could look like,” he said.
Phillips has also been appointed Regional Vice President for Oceania at the Commonwealth Games Federation.
“Commonwealth sport finds itself at a critical juncture and I am committed to working with the Executive Board and colleagues from across the globe as we strive to find a new host for 2026,” he said.
“The 74 member associations of our movement have shared aspirations of success for the athletes of the Commonwealth and delivering them opportunities to compete must be at the heart of all that we do.”
Chris Jenkins has taken on the role of president of the Commonwealth Games Federation following the retirement of President of Dame Louise Martin.
