The government of Malaysia has decided to decline the opportunity to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, citing uncertainty over costs and insufficient funding offered by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). This announcement comes as a significant setback for the quadrennial multi-sport event.
The request for Malaysia to step in as the host came after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew its offer due to escalating costs. In response, the CGF offered £100 million in supporting funds to Malaysia. However, the funding amount was deemed inadequate by Malaysian officials. They expressed that given the short notice and the limited time available to assess the potential economic impact, it was not feasible for Malaysia to commit to hosting the event.
Fahmi Fadzil, the government spokesperson and communications minister, emphasized, “If we had a longer time, we would definitely do it, but because there’s such a short time, we definitely can’t do it.” He further added, “When we assessed the viability of hosting the Games, the length of time needed and the cost was seen to be particularly prohibitive.”
The Commonwealth Games Federation, based in London, has not yet provided a response to Malaysia’s decision to decline its offer.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports stated that the £100 million in funding offered by the CGF would not suffice to cover the costs associated with hosting a large-scale sports event. Additionally, it expressed that the economic impact could not be adequately identified within the short timeframe provided.
The decision made by Malaysia raises the possibility that the 2026 Commonwealth Games may not take place for the first time since the Second World War, when the event was canceled. It will be integral for the Commonwealth Games Federation to reassess the situation and determine the next steps for the future of the Games.
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