Australia is set to facilitate the last piece in the puzzle to allow Glasgow to host the troubled 2026 Commonwealth Games.
After the Victorian government pulled out of hosting the Games in July last year, citing a massive cost blowout, the 2026 edition and the Commonwealth Games in general have been under a cloud.
But AAP reported on Monday Scotland’s government is on the cusp of signing off on hosting the sporting competition in two years’ time, following Glasgow’s previous hosting in 2014.
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) is reportedly meeting with Scottish officials to hold talks over the event, with CGA offering a multimillion-dollar investment that will help get the deal over the line.
The Scottish and United Kingdom governments had refused to use any public money towards the rescue bid, which was being largely bankrolled by a $200 million supplement from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
That money had come from the $380 million compensation the Victorian government paid after its disastrous and embarrassing withdrawal.
Scotland had asked the UK government to underwrite the Games and chip in about $4.5m to cover any security cost blowouts, which was refused.
It’s understood that Australia is now tabling an offer in the vicinity of that $4.5m, which was been accepted
“We commend Commonwealth Games Australia for making this generous multimillion-pound offer,” CGF president Chris Jenkins said in a statement ahead of Australia’s meeting with the Scottish government.
Source:news.com.au
