Commonwealth nations are throwing their support behind Australia hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games but a decision on a host still remains uncertain.
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) chief executive Craig Phillips is meeting with officials from other nations in Singapore this week after Victoria in July pulled out of hosting the 2026 Games.
The Gold Coast has offered to host the 2026 edition but discussions, including on crucial Queensland government support, remain ongoing.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is holding its general assembly in Singapore later Wednesday but no decision will be made regarding the host of the 2026 Games.
“All the (CGF) membership is looking forward to hearing a bit more,” Phillips told AAP on Wednesday.
“There is certainly a lot of interest coming our way, a lot of our colleagues are asking us how we’re travelling with potential replacements.
“There is a lot of support from our colleagues for the Games to still happen in Australia somewhere which has been encouraging, they have thrown their support behind us doing that.”
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate last month offered to host the 2026 Games, as the city did in 2018, saying it would cost $700 million.
But the Queensland government initially ruled out support, saying it was prioritising the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
“We are waiting on something more formal from the Gold Coast, we haven’t had those discussions,” Phillips said.
“Tom is a great enthusiast for the Games so we appreciate his interest.
“They have still got to work through internally what that could look like and also any ongoing conversations with the Queensland government in terms of their support.
“Clearly a Games anywhere in Australia needs a lot of state government support.
“Realistically when Games are held in Australia, state governments do much of the heavy lifting … you absolutely do need their support and involvement.”
Phillips said CGA would also continue canvassing other Australian states, though none have yet expressed interest.
“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.
“Being here and meeting with the CGF has given us an opportunity to progress things, but we’re still in that situation of getting ourselves ready for those conversations.”
The CGF has said it would be willing to postpone the Games and stage the multi-sport event in early 2027.
“Even with conversations starting soon, a resolution will probably drift in to the first quarter of next year,” Phillips said.