Alberta withdraws support, ending 2030 Commonwealth Games bid

TORONTO – The province of Alberta on Thursday withdrew its support for a bid centred around Calgary/Edmonton to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which ended any chance of bringing the multi-sport showcase event back to Canada for its centennial.

The decision was another blow for the embattled Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) after Hamilton, Ontario, which hosted the inaugural Games in 1930, suspended its bid and Australian state Victoria in July withdrew as host of the 2026 Games due to projected cost overruns.

On July 18, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the 2026 event was supposed to be a massive boost for the regional cities hosting it, at a cost of A$2.6 billion (S$2.3 billion). But he told reporters the cost of staging the 12-day competition had ballooned to more than A$6 billion.

The Alberta bid was scuttled for similar reasons. Tourism and Sport Minister Joseph Schow said the bill was estimated at C$2.7 billion (S$2.6 billion) – a burden “too high for the province to bear”.

“Commonwealth Sport Canada has been informed by the Alberta government that they have decided to discontinue the exploration of a 2030 Commonwealth Games bid,” said Commonwealth Sport Canada in a statement.

“We believe the recent decision by the Victorian government to withdraw from the 2026 Commonwealth Games was a significant factor in Alberta’s decision, as well as an over-dependence on taxpayer support for the planning and delivery of the Games.

“Commonwealth Sport Canada is profoundly disappointed in Alberta government’s decision but respects their right to make this decision.”

The Alberta government had committed up to US$2 million (S$2.7 million) and the city of Edmonton another US$1 million to explore the feasibility of hosting the Games.

Commonwealth Sport Canada had said it expected to complete the feasibility study in August when a decision would be made on whether to submit a formal bid.

That decision has now been made for them.

Mr Schow said in a statement that hosting the Games, which typically attract more than 4,000 athletes from the 54 nations and 18 territories of the Commonwealth, was not in line with the interests of Alberta taxpayers.

“The corporate sponsorship model and limited broadcast revenues for the Commonwealth Games would have put 93 per cent of those costs and risks on taxpayers,” he added.

“We committed to remain transparent with Albertans about the costs of hosting international sporting events and clearly demonstrating a return on our investment for the people and communities in Alberta.

“That is why we have made the decision not to continue pursuing the bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.”

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek’s office, meanwhile, said in an e-mailed statement to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that without the support of the province the bid was finished.

“The provincial government’s decision to withdraw from Alberta’s 2030 Commonwealth Games bid process effectively terminates the bid and the city of Calgary’s participation,” the statement said.

Canada has hosted four Commonwealth Games, in 1930, 1954, 1978 and 1994.

The last edition of the event was held in 2022 in Birmingham, after the English city stepped in to replace South Africa’s Durban, which was stripped of hosting rights after a series of missed deadlines and financial problems.

Victoria was the exclusive bidder for the 2026 edition after no other countries showed interest.

It was reported that the Indian Olympic Association had approached its government in December regarding a possibility of hosting the Games in 2026 or 2030.

It remains to be seen what happens now that both editions are missing a host.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said earlier in the week that the Commonwealth Games are a strong enough brand to survive their latest crisis, but they must innovate to do so, without going into details. REUTERS, AFP