Britain declines to step in and save Commonwealth Games
London | Britain will not ride straight to the rescue of the Commonwealth Games, throwing the onus back on Australia to sort out the crisis caused by the Victorian government’s shock decision to pull out of hosting.
The British government said it was a matter for the organisers to find a solution for the 2026 Games. And the successful 2022 host city, Birmingham, ruled out stepping in to save the day.
Birmingham’s hosting of the 2022 Commonwealth Games was hailed as a great success. AP
A spokesman for the UK government’s Department of Culture, Media & Sport said Premier Daniel Andrews’ surprise announcement was “disappointing for both fans and athletes”, but did not flag any intervention.
“We hope that the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia will now work together to find a viable solution to hosting the event in 2026, so that athletes have the chance to compete and fans have the opportunity to enjoy this incredible event,” the spokesman said in a statement emailed to The Australian Financial Review.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street raised hopes early in the day that his city, Birmingham, might be willing to play white knight, as it had in 2022 after the South African city of Durban had to withdraw.
Asked on the BBC if he would put his hand up, he said only that it was “far too soon for that question”.
But Birmingham City Council later put a dampener on any prospects of a repeat performance.
“The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games were a huge success for the city and wider region – providing a major boost to the city’s economy in terms of new jobs, inward investment and tourism – but it’s now someone else’s turn to stage this amazing event,” a spokesman said in a statement emailed to the AFR.
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