AusLeisure

A proposed multi-centre bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games across cities in Regional Victoria has been put on hold due to the Coronavirus crisis.

The bid, launched nearly four years ago by the City of Greater Shepparton, planned to host the 2030 Games at venues around the state in Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Nagambie, Traralgon, Warrnambool, Wodonga and Yarrawonga.

Promoted as ‘the People's Games’, proposed venues included a new stadium at the Shepparton Sports Precinct to hold athletics events, aquatic sport at the Greater Bendigo Indoor Aquatic Leisure Centre and rugby seven’s at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium. Ballarat Badminton Centre, the Geelong Stead Park Hockey Centre and Shepparton Park Bowls Club were to be among other venues utilised.

While a completed pre-feasibility study for the bid has been completed, the Coronavirus crisis has intervened in it being presented to regional councils.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O'Keeffe is still hopeful the bid will be finalised.

Mayor O'Keeffe advised earlier this month “the aspiration to have the 2030 Commonwealth Games across eight regional cities is still strong if we are able to do so, but like a lot of things at the moment there is uncertainty.

“Greater Shepparton already has attracted major sporting events.

“We already have some world class facilities and have proven we can host the best of the best.

“The proposal of having the games across the proposed eight cities is exciting and would give an incredible economic boost as well as give the locals an opportunity to experience an elite level of sport.

“There would be extra infrastructure needed to host the Games which would be an exciting addition to some of the participating cities’ sporting facilities and would remain for the regions to continue to maximise other sporting event opportunities in the future.”

Mayor O'Keeffe said if it wasn't for the pandemic, the pre-feasibility study would have been released to relevant councils by now and she hoped the work on it would resume as soon as possible so they could plan which events would be held where and to determine what extra infrastructure would be needed.

The Commonwealth Games Federation is currently looking for a host for the 2026 Commonwealth Games to follow Birmingham, which is are due to stage next year’s event.

Adelaide had expressed an interest in bidding for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, but the South Australian Government has refused to back it.

It has left Hamilton in Canada as the only city who have publicly confirmed their interest, but it also requires support from their Provincial and Federal Government.

Image: Members of the taskforce behind the 2030 Commonwealth Games bid, including former Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallist John Steffensen [fourth from left] and former AFL player and Chief Executive of the EJ Whitten Foundation Nick Holland [far right] at the launch of the bid in 2017.

Related Articles

15th February 2021 - Regional Victoria launches first Seniors Exercise Park in Ballarat

18th January 2021 - Comment invited on plans for final stage upgrades to Geelong’s Kardinia Park Stadium

31st October 2020 - South Australian Government ends interest in Adelaide hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games

18th September 2020 - Improvement work at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium underway

16th September 2020 - FFA partners with Greater Shepparton City Council with goal to secure more AFC youth women’s qualifiers

10th September 2020 - Shepparton’s BMX Supercross World Cup recognised as leading regional event  

25th September 2019 - Gold Coast sport venue welcomes a million patrons since 2018 Commonwealth Games

15th July 2019 - Commonwealth Games venues deliver massive ongoing economic benefits for the Gold Coast

8th April 2019 - Quayclean’s Commonwealth Games achievements help team members in career advancement

3rd April 2019 - Commonwealth Games Australia will provide $13 million for athletes

24th September 2018 - Commonwealth Games legacy sees opening of National Squash Centre at Carrara

24th January 2018 - Shepparton beach volleyball carnival marks countdown to sport’s Commonwealth Games debut

22nd December 2017 - Birmingham named as host for 2022 Commonwealth Games

1st October 2017 - Australian cities retreat from 2022 Commonwealth games hosting

23rd September 2017 - Shepparton Sports City gets official opening

24th April 2017 - Australia to submit bid to host 2022 Commonwealth Games

13th April 2017 - Regional Victoria looks to bid for 2030 Commonwealth Games hosting

17th March 2017 - Melbourne and Perth emerge as potential 2022 Commonwealth Games hosts

4th July 2016 - South Australian Government to consider Adelaide bid for 2030 Commonwealth Games

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.