Malaysia on Friday determined towards internet hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to the price, the federal government mentioned, in a contemporary blow to an occasion seen as outdated by some.
The choice, made at a cupboard assembly chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, follows the withdrawal of the Australian state of Victoria final 12 months.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports today announced the government’s decision not to accept an offer from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” minister Hannah Yeoh mentioned in a press release.
The CGF is scrambling to discover a host after Victoria withdrew final July due to hovering prices.
The CGF supplied Malaysia and different potential hosts 100 million kilos ($125 million) to step in with simply over two years to go till the Games are supposed to happen.
But the Malaysian authorities mentioned the supply was “not expected to be able to cover the entire cost of organising a large-scale sports event”, Yeoh mentioned.
“The government wants to focus on the development of sports as well as the welfare and well-being of the people,” she added.
Victoria’s sudden transfer, and the shortage of an apparent various, triggered debate about the way forward for the Games, which happen each 4 years and have been final held in Birmingham in 2022.
The CGF earlier this month hailed Malaysia’s “fantastic track record”, the nation having staged the Games — which principally consists of former British colonies — in 1998.
But the CGF additionally urged that Malaysia was not the one nation it had approached to host the Games.
Singapore just lately mentioned it was “assessing the feasibility” of the CGF’s proposal.
The rich metropolis-state additionally holds the Formula One evening race yearly and will probably be staging the World Aquatics Championships in 2025.
The prospect of Malaysia stepping in to host the Games had sparked fierce debate.
Mohamad Norza Zakaria, president of the Commonwealth Games Association of Malaysia, had known as it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that might put Malaysia again on the sporting map.
But doubts emerged final week over the concept after present and former senior officers expressed reservations.
Khairy Jamaluddin, a former youth and sports activities minister, rubbished the concept and known as it “reckless” as a result of the Games are arising quick, leaving little time for planning.
Any host would want a minimum of 4 years to improve venues, plan sponsorship and arrange infrastructure, he informed AFP.
“The Commonwealth Games is not a significant, marquee sporting event,” he added.
“As far as multi-sports Games are concerned, it is nowhere near the Olympics or even the Asian Games in terms of participation, exposure and returns,” Khairy mentioned.
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)
