The Scottish capital of Glasgow is set to be announced as the host city of a "scaled down" Commonwealth Games in 2026, a year after Australian state Victoria pulled out due to ballooning costs, according to reports.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games were to be held in multiple cities across Victoria but the Australian state made a shock announcement in July 2023 that it has pulled out of the multi-sport event citing a steep rise in projected expenditure.
The withdrawal, which led to the Victorian government paying 380 million Australian dollar (around USD 256 million) in compensation to the
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), dealt a major blow on an event that has lost relevance in recent years.
But it is learnt that the Australian authorities have promised "a multi-million pound investment" -- reported to be nearly 5 million Australia dollar -- to help finalise Glasgow's offer to rescue the multi-sport event.
"Glasgow, which hosted the games in 2014, is now close to confirming a scaled down event featuring fewer sports," the BBC reported.
"The Scottish government is on the verge of agreeing a deal for Glasgow to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026."