Front page news Who remembered it was even in Australia?
Very disappointing for the athletes. Shame that it has to cost so much. No doubt the cost of building anything contributed to this.
I've seen one comment saying it's become a spectacle more than a sporting event. That got me thinking that I would accept it being scaled down to be less visually extravagant and more focused on sporting achievement.
What are your thoughts on cancelling the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
Edit 1: The cost of the games was originally budgeted at $2.6 billion, but new estimates is $6 billion and potential more than $7 billion. This has triggered the decision to cancel.
Edit 2: politics and finances aside, it is extremely sad for sport.
@BobLim: I agree they were spending unsustainably but also think that they might be spending on overdue infrastructure which has been neglected by other governments. I never saw previous governments do any infrastructure at all. Wish the airport rail was still go.
I reckon the degree of inflation counts as a shock to most. The boffins at treasury probably flagged it during COVID spending. But harder to see Russia Ukraine energy market disruption coming which prob amplify it.
Like you say probably a combination of costs and public perception of costs combining to change how they are steering the ship. I'm not totally cynical. They are taking austerity measures which is good but yeah dan did seem to be going a bit spend crazy toward the end. His cw games cancellation is shrewd politics to signal a change.