Push for South Australian Government to reconsider Adelaide hosting the Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) is reported to be urging the South Australian Government to reconsider a bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games to be held in Adelaide.

With the economic impact of Coronavirus pandemic reducing interest in hosting the Games among potential bid cities, Reuters has reported that a CGA study says hosting the Games could boost the local economy by $2.5 billion.

Amid concern at the cost of Games infrastructure, the South Australian Government decided not proceed with a potential bid in September last year after a report that suggested the economic benefit would only be $1.2 billion.

However, details of a CGA commissioned report from business consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) suggests that spending on Games infrastructure and hosting the event in 2026 would help aid the South Australian Government’s post-COVID economic strategies.

Speaking yesterday after making the report public, CGA President, Ben Houston advised “of course we understand the current climate in which we are all in.

“However, like our athletes, we must look forward and it is our view that a Commonwealth Games in South Australia would provide the launch pad for a range of projects that leave a long lasting legacy for all South Australians.”

The report added a successful bid would help boost tourism and foreign trade while also attracting international students to Adelaide.

It said the cost for Games operations, security and upgrading sporting infrastructure would be about $1.49 billion, of which the South Australian Government would be responsible for $1.1 billion.

Based on previous Games, the report said that South Australia could see $2.5 billion in added economic benefit from increased visitor spending, the government stimulus initiatives and “additional flow on effects”.

Houston added that the Commonwealth Games Federation had changed its requirements for the delivery of future Games, which resulted in significant cost savings for host cities and governments.

Adelaide has never hosted the Commonwealth Games, with the most recent event being held on Australia’s Gold Coast in 2018.

The next Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham in England in 2022.

Image: The Adelaide Oval (at right) would likely be the centrepiece of a future Commonwealth Games.