(ATR) Hamilton, Ontario’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 is not dead despite claims to the contrary.
A spokeswoman for Ontario Heritage, Tourism and Sport Minister Lisa MacLeod doubled down on comments made by her boss last week that the provincial government would only back a bid if it were for 2027 or beyond.
"We encourage the City and bid group to consider pursuing this opportunity in 2027 or beyond in Hamilton and would entertain those discussions with the parties involved," Dakota Brasier said in a statement reported by The Canadian Press.
MacLeod said last week that the province already has its hands full financially in backing FIFA World Cup matches in 2026. Canada is co-hosting the World Cup with the United States and Mexico.
The bid must have the financial support of the city of Hamilton, the province of Ontario and the Canadian national government to be viable.
But MacLeod may not have the last word on the matter. Her comments come as the Commonwealth Games Federation and Ontario have already begun a series of meetings about the bid.
"The CGF is planning to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026," a CGF spokesperson tells Around the Rings.
"There has been no formal request to the CGF to consider 2027 so this is not a scenario we have looked at. At present, we have just entered into a dialogue with leading representatives from the Province regarding Ontario’s interest in hosting the Commonwealth Games and we look forward to this continuing."
A Hamilton 2026 spokesperson tells ATR "insofar as the Federation and the Province are now meeting to discuss the opportunity directly it would not be appropriate for us to comment on what is or is not ‘on the table’".
Hamilton had originally wanted to host the centenary Games in 2030, since the city hosted the first edition – then called the British Empire Games – in 1930.
The Commonwealth Games Federation convinced Hamilton to pivot from 2030 to 2026 in April following the decision by Adelaide, Australia in September 2019 to withdraw its bid. The CGF sweetened the pot by giving the Canadian city exclusive bidding rights.
Should the 2026 bid fail, a return to 2030 could still be in the cards though Hamilton would almost certainly face challengers in that bidding process.
Hamilton has tried and failed to land the Commonwealth Games in 1994, 2010 and 2014. Canada last hosted the Games in 1994 in Victoria.
India is currently the only other country to publicly announce interest in hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026, though ATR understands there are other as yet unnamed cities that could also be in the mix.
Indonesia 2032 Bid Progresses
Indonesia President Joko Widodo is ramping up efforts to bring the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics to his country.
The plan includes at some point a trip to Lausanne to meet with IOC President Thomas Bach, reports the Antara news agency.
Widodo earlier this week called on his Cabinet members to prepare a road map for the bid, even though the IOC has indicated it is no hurry to select the 2032 host city.
According to the Jakarta Post, Widodo has ordered the establishment of a dedicated committee to prepare the hosting bid, including a budget and feasibility studies. The Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) and other related government institutions will be involved in the work.
In March, the Indonesia NOC PresidentRaja Sapta Oktoharisaid that Jakarta was the only viable city to host in 2032 given the IOC’s sustainability strategy and the other requirements of Agenda 2020. There had been speculation that the country’s future capital in East Kalimantan might be an option.
Indonesia submitted its formal 2032 bid letter to Bach in February 2019.
Widodo had told Bach in a meeting during the Asian Games in Jakarta that Indonesia was ready for the Olympics. Jakarta and Palembang hosted the 18th Asian Games from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2, 2018.
Australia, Germany, India and Qatar are also in on the quest for 2032. A joint Korean bid is also still a possibility as is another attempt from Madrid, Spain.
Written and reported by Gerard Farek
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