Alberta axes 2030 Commonwealth Games bid

Alberta has pulled its support for a potential bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games over high costs, a move that adds more fuel to recent fears about the future of the Games.

Joseph Schow, Alberta’s tourism minister, said Thursday a joint bid that was being considered by the province, Edmonton, Calgary and the Tsuut’ina Nation won’t be going ahead. Bid exploration would have come with a $4 million price tag, with Edmonton and Calgary pitching in $1 million each and the province paying the balance. But that initial investment would have paled in comparison to the estimated $2.6 billion cost of hosting the Commonwealth Games.

CSC STATEMENT on@YourAlberta
withdrawal from the exploration of the 2030 Commonwealth Games Bid

Click here: https://t.co/3EccLPlFX8 pic.twitter.com/pT1TUSvwQR

— Commonwealth Sport Canada (@CwthSportCAN) August 4, 2023

“It’s not a good deal for Alberta,” Schow told the Calgary Herald. “When it comes down to it, it has to be a good deal for Alberta taxpayers and this just wasn’t that. Frankly, the Commonwealth Games placed the majority of the financial part of the risk on government and taxpayers.”

Alberta was poised to be awarded the 2030 Games had it decided to pursue the bid, as no other competing bids have been announced.

The decision not to go forward with a bid comes just weeks after the government of Victoria, Australia announced it was ending its contract to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which were set to be based in Melbourne. Similar to Alberta, Victoria’s decision to pull out as host was largely based on cost concerns. The Australian state’s government said the original forecast budget for the Games was AUD$2.6 billion, but that figure had ballooned to AUD$6 billion.

Several potential host cities have expressed interest in stepping in, including Sydney in New South Wales and Adelaide in South Australia. There have also been discussions about the possibility of bids from countries like India or Malaysia.

In a statement Thursday, Commonwealth Sport Canada said Victoria’s pulling out as host of the 2026 Games likely played a large part in Alberta’s decision not to bid for the 2030 Games.

“Commonwealth Sport Canada has been informed by the Alberta Government that they have decided to discontinue the exploration of a 2030 Commonwealth Games bid. We believe the recent decision by the Victorian government to withdraw from the 2026 Commonwealth Games was a significant factor in Alberta’s decision, as well as an over-dependence on taxpayer’s support for the planning and delivery of the Games,” read the statement. “Commonwealth Sport Canada is profoundly disappointed in (the) Alberta Government’s decision but respects their right to make this decision.”

Melbourne pulls out as host of 2026 Commonwealth Games

The organization had expected to complete a feasibility study this month when a decision would be made on whether to proceed with a formal bid.

Hosting rights to the 2030 Games are set to be awarded in November, but Alberta’s decision could put that timeline in doubt. The Games are slated to run 11 days during August 2030, featuring 4,500 athletes competing across 20 sports.