The blow is hard. It could even be fatal. Two years before the deadline, the Commonwealth Games have definitively drawn the line on a new replacement option for Australian Victoria, initial host of the multisport event in 2026. Tempted for a moment by the adventure, Malaysia gave up. She withdrew from the race.
Meeting at the end of last week in Kuala Lumpur, the Prime Minister's Office opened the file, studied the timetable, analyzed the costs and estimated the risks. To finally close the subject with a firm and definitive no. Malaysia will not play the role of firefighter in an event that no one seems to want anymore in the countries of the former British Empire. At least in the short term.
On paper, however, the opportunity seemed attractive. Short of solutions since Victoria's withdrawal, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) offered Malaysia a check for 100 million pounds (116 million euros at current prices) to host the 2026 edition in Kuala Lumpur. The South-East Asian country could have reduced the size of the sports program, kept a low profile on the ceremonies, and dispensed with an athletes' village by lodging the delegations in a hotel. He had carte blanche, almost.
But the picture was not considered complete enough to accept the risk of ending up in the hands of a very uncertain organization, with two years to close the deal. Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil explained: “ With a longer lead time, we definitely would. But with only two years left, that's not possible. When we assessed the viability of such a project, we felt that the time was not sufficient, and the costs were truly prohibitive.."
The day before the Cabinet meeting, Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh prepared the ground for Malaysia's refusal by explaining that the 100 million pounds aid offered by the CGF would not finance the organization of the Games , and that it was not possible to use taxpayers' money for such a project.
The decision announced, Hannah Yeoh hit the nail on the head. “ In addition, the economic impact could not be analyzed precisely in such a short time frame.she added.
Officially, the race for the 2026 Commonwealth Games remains open. In a short statement, the CGF spokesperson assured that “ confidential host nomination process continues with other interested Commonwealth Games associations. » But the absence of names of potential candidates, and the proximity of the event, suggest that the page could actually be blank.
At this stage, two options emerge. The most credible: a one-year postponement of the 2026 edition. With a longer deadline, applicants could be tempted. But, even with 12 more months, it is not certain that the hands will be raised to try the adventure.
The second option, discussed for several months as a possible plan B, would consist of dividing the event into a succession of Commonwealth championships in certain sports on the program. Not won in advance.
As a reminder, the Commonwealth Games have been canceled only twice since their creation, in 1942 and 1946. In both cases, for the same reason: the Second World War.
Bad coincidence of the calendar: Malaysia's renunciation came at a time when a study by the Victorian State Audit Office revealed that abandoning the 2026 Commonwealth Games would have cost 589 million Australian dollars (355 million euros) in organizational costs and financial compensation. A slate completely wiped clean by the public authorities.
The report also suggests that the business plan for the Victoria 2026 project was in reality shaky, with undervalued expenses and a greatly exaggerated economic impact.
