Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) President, Ben Houston, has announced that CGA are committed to a multi-million pound investment that will support making Glasgow 2026 a reality.
The funding injection is in addition to the £100m committed by the Commonwealth Games Federation.
It will aim to reduce any perceived financial and reputational risk highlighted by the Scottish Government, and contribute to ensuring the delivery of a critical component on the performance pathway for Australia’s athletes.
“Commonwealth Games Australia welcomes the enthusiasm for the Games by the Scottish and UK Governments, and we want to do all that we can to make Glasgow 2026 a reality,” Houston said.
“We appreciate that the model is different and that that creates perceived financial and reputational challenges, but we have every confidence in the model proposed by Commonwealth Games Scotland.
“As one of the beneficiaries of the settlement with the Victorian Government, we today commit a multi-million pound investment into the Games to be further negotiated with Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Scottish Government.
“Now is not the time to walk away from a Games that has inspired for generations, and we look forward to working collaboratively toward an outcome that benefits Commonwealth nations, their athletes, coaches and fans.”
Houston also commented on the importance of the Commonwealth Games, as one of five pinnacle event opportunities outlined in Australia’s HP 2032+ Sport Strategy.
It is critical to green and gold success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with 46% of Australia’s athletes competing for the first time at the Commonwealth Games.
Further, 51% of athletes who medal at the Commonwealth Games go on to medal at their next international competition.
“The Commonwealth Games are at the heart of Australia’s performance pathway, often providing the launch pad for continued and ongoing success by Australian athletes,” Houston said.
“They are irreplaceable in terms of providing global competition and, in the absence of an Australian host, it is in the interests of Australian sport that we make an overseas Games a reality.”
Commonwealth Games Australia receives no funding from the Australian Government and derives its substantial income from private investments and commercial revenue.
A meeting with CGF Scotland and the Scottish Government has been sought to take the offer forward, with a further update to be provided after this has taken place.
