OTTAWA: The Canadian province of Alberta has decided to pull its support for hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games, citing concerns over escalating expenses.
The joint bid, which centred around the cities of Edmonton and Calgary, faced an estimated bill of C$2.7bn (£1.5bn; $2bn), which the province deemed to be too burdensome to bear.
The original plan was to host the games over 11 days in August 2030, with events spread across Calgary and Edmonton, as well as the Tsuut’ina Nation and Enoch Cree Nation. However, Alberta’s Tourism and Sports Minister, Joseph Schow, expressed apprehension over the corporate sponsorship model and limited broadcast revenues, as these would have placed 93% of costs and risks on taxpayers. In an effort to ensure transparency in funding and to demonstrate a return on investment, the decision was made to halt the bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
The Alberta provincial government had previously committed up to C$2m (£1.2m) to explore the feasibility of hosting the Games, while the city of Edmonton pledged another C$1m (£590,000). Nonetheless, with the withdrawal of support from the province, the bid is effectively terminated, leaving the city of Calgary’s participation in doubt.
The Commonwealth Games are a quadrennial multi-sport event open to participants from the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth, most of which were once part of the British Empire. These games have only been cancelled once, during World War Two.
Alberta’s decision echoes that of Victoria, Australia, which pulled out of hosting the 2026 games due to budget blowouts, causing disappointment within the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). Meanwhile, Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, expressed a willingness to consider hosting at least part of the 2026 event, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan supported the idea of the capital hosting but emphasized that any final decision would rest with the government.
The impact of these withdrawal decisions underscores the financial challenges associated with hosting large-scale international sporting events. As the cost estimates continue to rise, governments and organizers face increasing scrutiny over the potential benefits and risks to taxpayers. As of now, it remains uncertain which city or country will ultimately step up to take on the responsibility of hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
