The Australian state of Victoria announced on Tuesday that it will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with all sporting events taking place outside its capital, Melbourne.
State Premier Daniel Andrews thanked the Commonwealth Games organization for the decision, admitting it was “a little riskier than organizing them in the middle of a big city”.
The Games will take place in four regional centers located in the cities of Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland, each with a separate Athletes’ Village.
However, the opening ceremony will take place in Australia’s largest stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which can accommodate more than 100,000 spectators.
Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin called the Victoria project a “bold and innovative vision” for the event.
The state has confirmed 16 sports for the Games so far with more announcements to come. This will be the sixth time that Australia will host the Commonwealth Games and the second time in the state of Victoria, after the 2006 edition centered on Melbourne.
Prime Minister Andrews said the 2026 Commonwealth Games should bring a ‘$3 billion boost to Victoria’s economy’strongly affected by the health restrictions linked to Covid-19.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8.
These Games bring together every four years the member nations of the British Commonwealth, an association of some fifty countries, most of them from the British Empire.
