- Malaysia declines 2026 Commonwealth Games hosting due to costs
- CGF’s £100 million funding deemed insufficient by Malaysia
- Concerns over economic impact and preparation time highlighted
The Malaysian government announced on Friday that the country had declined an offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games on account of cost uncertainty and inadequate funding. This is a significant setback for the quadrennial multi-sport event.
In response to Victoria’s withdrawal as host due to escalating expenses, Malaysia was requested to assume the role. In support of Victoria’s bid, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has allocated £100 million in funding. The most recent ruling introduces the potentiality that the Games, which were previously canceled as a result of the Second World War, might not occur once more.
According to officials, the proposed funding needed to be increased, and Malaysia was unable to commit to hosting the event with such short notice and little time to assess the potential economic impact. Fahmi Fadzil, the communications minister and spokesperson for the government, stated at a routine briefing, “If we had more time, we very much would accomplish it; however, due to the extremely limited time available, we are unable to do so.” “Upon evaluating the feasibility of hosting the Games, we determined that the required time and expense would be extremely prohibitive.”
There has yet to be a prompt response from the London-based CGF to requests for comment regarding Malaysia’s rejection of the offer.
The youth and sports ministry stated that the proposed £100 million in funding would not suffice to cover the expenses associated with hosting a major sporting event. “Moreover, in this brief period, the economic repercussions could not be ascertained,” the organization stated in a statement.
Approximately seventy countries and territories of the former British dominion typically participate in the Games. In recent editions, Australia, England, Canada, India, New Zealand, and South Africa have dominated the medal tables. Already, Victoria’s withdrawal cast doubt on the event’s future and prompted inquiries into the continued relevance of the Games, which originated in the colonies, and its position in an already crowded international sporting schedule.
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In recent years, it has not been easy to secure a willing host for the Games, and Australia or the United Kingdom has completed hosting five of the last six editions. The 2022 event was rescued by the English city of Birmingham, which had been designated as the host for the 2026 event, subsequent to South Africa’s forfeiture of hosting privileges due to inadequate preparations. The CGF was forced to find a replacement host for 2026 in response to Birmingham’s withdrawal; Victoria was the only viable candidate after several other cities withdrew from the tendering process due to cost concerns.
Due to concerns regarding costs and insufficient time for preparation, the proposition was met with a varied reception in Malaysia, where the 1998 edition was held. This week, the Malaysian Olympic Council put forth a proposal to conduct the Games in a scaled-down manner, including reduced expenditures on accommodations for athletes and shorter opening and closing ceremonies.
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