In another blow, the Commonwealth Games Federation is struggling to find a host after Victoria withdrew last July due to soaring costs.
Malaysia has decided not to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to cost, the government announced on Friday, dealing another blow to the Commonwealth Games programme, an event seen as outdated by some.
The decision, taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, follows Victoria’s withdrawal last year.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports today announced the government’s decision not to accept the offer from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” the Minister said Hannah Yeoh in a statement.
In another blow, the CGF is struggling to find a host after Australia’s Victoria withdrew last July due to soaring costs.
With its back to the wall and facing a small window, the CGF offered Malaysia and other potential hosts 100 million pounds to intervene just over two years before the Games.
But the Malaysian government said the bid “is not expected to be able to cover the entire cost of hosting a large-scale sporting event”, Yeoh said.
“The government wants to focus on the development of sport as well as the well-being of the population,” she added.
Victoria’s shocking decision and lack of a clear alternative has sparked debate over the future of the Games, which take place every four years and were last held in Birmingham in 2022.
The CGF this month praised Malaysia’s “fantastic track record”, having hosted the Games – which mainly include former British colonies – in 1998.
But the CGF had indicated that Malaysia was not the only country approached to host the Games.
Singapore said it was “assessing the feasibility” of the CGF proposal. The city-state also organizes the Formula 1 night race every year and will host the World Aquatics Championships in 2025.
‘Reckless’
The prospect of Malaysia participating in hosting the Commonwealth Games has sparked debate.
Mohamad Norza Zakaria, president of the Commonwealth Games Association of Malaysia, called it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that could put Malaysia back on the sporting map.
But doubts emerged last week after current and former senior officials expressed reservations.
Khairy Jamaluddin, former youth and sports minister, rejected the idea and called it “reckless” because the Games are fast approaching, leaving little time for planning.
Any host would need at least four years to upgrade venues, plan sponsorships and set up infrastructure, he told AFP.
“The Commonwealth Games are not a big, marquee sporting event,” he added.
“When it comes to multi-sport Games, they are nowhere near comparable to the Olympics or even the Asian Games in terms of participation, visibility and feedback,” Khairy said.
(with contributions from AFP)
