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Commonwealth Games officials are adamant "strong interest" remains in future editions, despite the cancellation of Victoria 2026 potentially sounding the death knell for the event.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) reacted with shock and outrage to the Victorian government's announcement on Tuesday morning that it would no longer support the 2026 edition, with soaring costs blamed for the decision.
When asked about the future of the Games, CGA chief executive Craig Phillips was bullish.
"We know there is strong interest in the Games and strong love of the Games here in Australia," he said.
"We'll re-set after this and move on, and look to see whether we can continue to be the host nation for 2026."
But there is no obvious candidate in Australia to take over the 2026 Games and Phillips said the "cavalier" manner of the government's cancellation would not help encourage future candidates.
Phillips did not mince his words about the cancellation.
"It's absolutely embarrassing ... I would be very careful, if I was an international sporting body, coming and doing business with this state in the future," he said.
"The state that prides itself on being the sporting capital of the world, I'm not sure it's a great look."
Phillips added the now-trashed regional model was proposed by the state government and said the cost overruns given as the cause of the cancellation are "a gross exaggeration".
He also said the state government "wilfully ignored" recommendations that some events, such as track cycling, be moved to existing Melbourne venues to save on costs.
"We certainly feel let down by the government," he said.
Phillips said the first he heard of the forecast $6 billion forecast for hosting the Games was on Tuesday morning.
Asked about the government claim that even if the Games were held in Melbourne, they would still cost $4 billion, he replied "I find that a little hard to believe."
"It's their own homework they're marking," he said the cost projections.
The CGF claimed the potential spend - up to $7 billion according to Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews at a press conference on Tuesday - was different to that put forward last month by the local organising committee.
The sports body also blamed the ballooning costs on the state government's idea for a regional Games.
"The reasons given are financial. The numbers quoted to us today of $6 billion are 50 per cent more than those advised to the Organising Committee board at its meeting in June," the CGF said in a statement from its London headquarters.
"These figures are attributed to price escalation primarily due to the unique regional delivery model that Victoria chose for these Games, and in particular relate to village and venue builds and transport infrastructure."
The statement added that Victoria had included extra sports and an additional regional hub, and changed plans for venues which added expense and were "often against the advice of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia".
The CGF said the state government only offered eight hours' notice before making the public announcement and did not consider working together towards a solution.
The Federation said it remained committed to running a 2026 event and the future of the Games.