Singapore rules out hosting Commonwealth Games, raises fresh doubts over future of multi-sport event

April 09, 2024

Silver medallists Asha Philip, Imani Lansiquot, Bianca Williams and Daryll Neita celebrate after the women’s 4x100m relay final at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. (Photo credit: AFP)

Source: South China Morning Post

Officials decide not to bid after ‘studying feasibility’ of hosting event that reportedly cost UK £778 million stage in 2022
Commonwealth Games Federation had offered countries £100 million to take on task of holding event

Singapore has ruled out hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, further plunging the future of the multi-sport event into doubt.

Sports authorities in the wealthy city state said they “have studied the feasibility of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games and have decided not to make any bid to host the Games.” according to a statement given to local media.

The statement came after Singapore was invited along with all the associations in the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to express interest in taking over the 2026 Games, during the CGF general assembly which was held in Singapore in November 2023.

The federation had said that it would provide £100 million (S$170 million) in “financial and strategic support” for the next host.

It is yet another blow for the event, which remains in limbo after the Australian state of Victoria, the original host, pulled out because of escalating costs. The budget had ballooned to A$7 billion from the original estimate of A$2.6 billion.

Malaysia declined to host last month because of the costs involved, despite the offer of the £100 million sweetener. Officials eventually rejected the offer because of time constraints, costs and an insufficient offer of funding.

Last held in Birmingham in 2022, those Games cost an estimated £778 million, with more than 5,000 athletes from 72 nations and territories competing across 20 sports.