KUALA LUMPUR (March 22): The federal government has decided to turn down the offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Ministry of Youth and Sports said.
In a statement on Friday, the ministry said that this decision follows thorough consideration — during a Cabinet meeting — of all the implications and aspects of hosting the Games.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the governing body of the quadrennial international multi-sport event, had offered Malaysia £100 million (RM603 million) in supporting funds during a meeting with the youth and sports minister as well as finance minister II, according to the ministry.
Results from the meeting were presented to the Cabinet, which among others, found that the £100 million offer from the CGF is not expected to be able to cover the entire cost of organising such a large-scale sports event.
Additionally, the ministry noted that the economic impact cannot be accurately identified within the short period of time available.
"The government extends its gratitude to the CGF for the offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. However, at this juncture, the government aims to prioritise the development of sports, as well as the welfare and well-being of its citizens," stated the ministry.
With Malaysia's decision to decline, the fate of the 2026 Commonwealth Games remains uncertain. The original host, the Australian state of Victoria, withdrew in July last year due to a significant increase in hosting costs, rising from the initial estimate of A$2.6 billion (RM8.11 billion) to A$7 billion.