“Take Money Out of Hospitals”: With the Budget Rising From $1,800,000,000 to $4,000,000,000, Australia Justifies Bowing Out of the Hosting Multi-Nation Sports Tournament

The upcoming Commonwealth Games are in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The host country has pulled their names from organizing the upcoming events in their nation. The news is spreading like wildfire in the sports community and all over the internet. Athletes are hopeful that there will be a solution to this so that there is no uncertainty around the games.

The reason for the nation’s opting out is that the event has gone over budget and the amount has soared to an unimaginable height. Authorities have pointed out some major issues that have compelled them to no longer be the hosts.

What seems to be the issue with Commonwealth Games

As reported by TIME, on Tuesday, Victoria, Australia, chosen to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, announced that it was opting out of hosting the event. The decision was taken after the estimated cost of the project ascended from $1.8 billion to $4 billion. Daniel Andrews, the Premier of Victoria, stated, “I will not take money out of hospitals and schools in order to fund an event that is three times the cost estimated and budgeted for last year.” It is evident from his statement that he is not happy with the costs and cannot cut out important amenities for the sake of these games.

This announcement has re-sparked the debate over whether the Commonwealth Games should exist anymore. This controversy has also initiated the conversation about global sporting events going over budget compared to their estimated cost. In the last six decades, events like the Olympics have gone over budget by a huge margin of 172%. While Victoria might have opted out of being the hosts, there is another city in Australia that has offered to be the host of these events.

A ray of hope for athletic aspirants

Gold Coast, the city that hosted the 2018 season of these games, has offered to be the host city for the 2026 games. Not only have they stepped ahead to host these games, but they are also preparing to host the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. Gold Coast’s taking the initiative has been appreciated by Athletics Australia. Though the official confirmation of whether Gold Coast will be the next host is yet to be confirmed by The Commonwealth Games Federation.

Read More: Eddie Hearn, Who Once Was Left Devastated After a Boxer’s Death, Expresses Fighter’s Safety Concerns in Commonwealth Games

This is not the first time a city has withdrawn its name from hosting the Commonwealth Games; a similar incident happened in 2017 when Durban did the same. The decision by Victoria to opt out has raised significant concerns and rekindled the debate about the viability of these global sporting events. Soaring costs and budget overruns have become a recurring issue, putting the existence of the games into question.

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