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read moreEvents at four regional centres across Victoria, each with their own Athletes' Village, and an Opening Ceremony MCG were among plans revealed this week as Victoria formally presented its bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
On Tuesday, Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula was part of an official delegation who made their presentation to host the event the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Executive Board.
The concept of a regional Games is being championed in a new roadmap launched earlier this year by the CGF, who had struggled to find a host city to follow this year’s event in Birmingham.
This means that the Games will not be focussed solely on Melbourne, which hosted a successful Commonwealth Games in 2006.
However, the MCG will stage the Opening Ceremony along with other, as yet unspecified sports.
Other regional centres are still to be officially announced, but, when launching the bid last month, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews claimed the state was "spoilt for choice", referencing stadiums in Geelong and Ballarat.
Ballarat is the likely home of the athletics events, with the city's Mars Stadium being considered.
Geelong's GMHBA Stadium approaching the final phase of its multi-decade redevelopment is also being considered for events along with the recently upgraded Bendigo Basketball Stadium.
It is expected that athletes will stay in each of the regional centres they are competing and rather than a single athletes village.
Ballarat is the likely home of the athletics events, with the city's Mars Stadium being considered.
Geelong's GMHBA Stadium approaching the final phase of its multi-decade redevelopment is also being considered for events along with the recently upgraded Bendigo Basketball Stadium.
It is expected that athletes will stay in each of the regional centres they are competing and rather than a single athletes village.
Under the new CGF roadmap, athletics and swimming are the only compulsory sports that must be included on the program, giving hosts an unprecedented flexibility, including the prospect of adding sports popular locally.
The Victorian bid expects to include between 19 and 22 sports in 2026, although AFL has already been ruled out.
By comparison, this year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham has 283 events in 20 sports while the Melbourne 2006 Games featured 245 events in 17 sports.
Reports suggest that first set of sports will be announced when Victoria is formally awarded the 2026 Commonwealth Games next month once the CGF have officially gone through their bid document.
Minister Pakula was joined as part of the Australian delegation by Linda Dessau, the Governor of Victoria, and delegation from Commonwealth Games Australia including the President Ben Houston and chief executive Craig Philips.
Visit Victoria, the state’s tourism and events company were also represented by chief executive Brendan McClements.
Images: The MCG will host the Opening Ceremony when Victoria stages the 2026 Commonwealth Games (top, credit: Shutterstock) and Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula tweet about submitting the 2026 Games bid (below).
5th March 2022 - MCG’s Great Southern Stand to be renamed in honour of cricketing great Shane Warne
22nd February 2022 - MCG partners with EnergyAustralia to transition to run on 100% renewable power
21st February 2022 - Construction begins on Geelong’s Northern Aquatic and Community Hub
16th February 2022 - Regional-led 2026 Commonwealth Games likely as Victorian Government enter exclusive bid negotiations
15th February 2022 - Mars to continue naming rights for Ballarat stadium
10th February 2022 - Tasmanian Government considers 2026 Commonwealth Games bid
30th January 2022 - Mildura will be ready to host sport events if Victoria secures 2026 Commonwealth Games
21st January 2022 - Stage two works completed at Ballarat’s Selkirk Stadium
19th January 2022 - Without a host city Commonwealth Games Federation looks to Victoria for 2026 Games
24th December 2021 - Stage five renovation of Geelong’s Kardinia Park to include indoor training facility
7th October 2021 - Bendigo Stadium Limited announces new Chief Executive appointment
22nd August 2021 - World Rugby’s Katie Sadleir named new Chief Executive at the Commonwealth Games Federation
13th August 2021 - Builder appointed to undertake fifth stage expansion of Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium
7th May 2021 - AOC, Commonwealth Games Australia and Paralympics Australia welcome introduction of national integrity framework for sport
21st February 2021 - Victorian regional bid for 2030 Commonwealth Games stalled due to Coronavirus
18th January 2021 - Visit Victoria partners with Mushroom Group to launch ‘2021 Sounds Better Together’ concert series
9th November 2020 - Victorian Government announces funding for completion of Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium as a 40,000 seat venue
31st October 2020 - South Australian Government ends interest in Adelaide hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games
25th September 2019 - Gold Coast sport venue welcomes a million patrons since 2018 Commonwealth Games
3rd April 2019 - Commonwealth Games Australia will provide $13 million for athletes
1st October 2018 - Gold Coast Commonwealth Games fell short of planned revenue benchmark
23rd September 2017 - Shepparton Sports City gets official opening
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