Outgoing AFL club President Peggy O’Neal to chair Commonwealth Games planning committee

Peggy O’Neal, the first woman to serve as a President of an AFL club, is set to take up a new role overseeing the delivery of the Victorian Commonwealth Games.

O’Neal, who is scheduled to step down from her Presidency of AFL club Richmond after a successful 10-year term in December, has been announced as Chair of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

O’Neal will head a committee tasked with organising the 2026 Games across the Victoria in a decentralised format, spread out across the regional hubs of Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland and with its opening ceremony to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Announced late today by Victorian Deputy Premier and Commonwealth Games Delivery Minister Jacinta Allan, the new board includes experienced sports leader and First Nations advocate Belinda Duarte, corporate and public sector executive Lisa Gray and Chief Executive Jeroen Weimar.

Representatives from the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia also sit on the Board, and include Dame Louise Martin, Katie Sadleir, Ben Houston and Craig Phillips.

Deputy Premier Allan, said the board members “will give a depth of experience to the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games and provide invaluable leadership to deliver this global event to be hosted across regional Victoria.”

The regional Games in Victoria is the first of its kind, with four hubs established in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland, with athletes’ village and specific sports programs.

O’Neal said helping to ensure a successful Games would be an honour, commenting “I love sport and what it means for communities across Victoria.

“I am delighted to be part of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games and to work with the Board, to ensure that the diverse voices in our State are heard as we make decisions throughout the delivery of the Games.”

A core group of 16 sports have already been chosen for the 2026 program, with Ballarat to host the key athletics events, while swimming will be held in Geelong.

Local organisers and Commonwealth Games countries are still to agree on four additional sports to be added, with Friday being the deadline for bids for inclusion from International Sporting Federations.

Organisers are caught between the chance to add fresh sports in a bid to attract high-profiles athletes, while some Commonwealth Games countries are lobbying for traditional disciplines.

Image: Peggy O'Neal. Credit: RMIT University.