Commonwealth Games Federation vice-president Kereyn Smith questions Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews's integrity over his decision to axe the 2026 Games.
It wasn’t the best way to do it and I do feel sorry for athletes that won’t get a shot at competing but honestly I couldn’t give less of a shit about the Commonwealth Games and whether it was a billion or three billion it would be better spent elsewhere.
Focusing on the Games and/or the money is missing the real story I think. The version of events being given here is pretty damning of the Victorian Government and suggests serious issues with its communication and organisation.
I think it’s clear as day that this is a money issue. The VIC Commonwealth Games has been projected to cost six times more than the Gold Coast and Birmingham Games. It’s also about same price as the 2032 QLD Olympic budget.
Being int he same ballpark as the Summer Olympics is outrageous and Victoria joins a very long list of governments that have planned to host the games and then withdrawn. And if the Commonwealth Games tries to make that withdrawal process as painful as it appears they’re going to, that will make future governments even more reluctant to touch the games.
It wasn’t the best way to do it and I do feel sorry for athletes that won’t get a shot at competing but honestly I couldn’t give less of a shit about the Commonwealth Games and whether it was a billion or three billion it would be better spent elsewhere.
Then they shouldn’t have bid on it in the first place. Once you’ve been awarded something like this, it’s an embarrassing dick-move to back out.
Embarrassing, yes… and yet still the only option.
They didn’t, no one wanted to do it and Vic was asked
Focusing on the Games and/or the money is missing the real story I think. The version of events being given here is pretty damning of the Victorian Government and suggests serious issues with its communication and organisation.
I think it’s clear as day that this is a money issue. The VIC Commonwealth Games has been projected to cost six times more than the Gold Coast and Birmingham Games. It’s also about same price as the 2032 QLD Olympic budget.
Being int he same ballpark as the Summer Olympics is outrageous and Victoria joins a very long list of governments that have planned to host the games and then withdrawn. And if the Commonwealth Games tries to make that withdrawal process as painful as it appears they’re going to, that will make future governments even more reluctant to touch the games.