KUALA LUMPUR: Mal­a­ysia said on Friday it had decided against hosting the 2026 Commo­nwealth Games because of the costs involved, raising fresh doubts over the future of the international multi-sport event.

The decision, made at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, follows the withdrawal of the Australian state of Victoria last year.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports today annou­nced the government’s deci­s­ion not to accept an offer from the Commo­nwealth Games Federation (CGF) to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” minister Hannah Yeoh said in a statement.

The CGF is scrambling to find a host after Victoria withdrew because of soaring costs. The CGF offered Mala­ysia and other potential hosts 100 million ($125 million) to step in with just over two years to go until the Games are supposed to take place.

But the Malaysian government said the offer was “not expected to be able to cover the entire cost of organising a large-scale sports event”, Yeoh said.

“The government wants to focus on the development of sports as well as the welfare and well-being of the people,” she added.

A spokesman for the CGF said the sea­rch for a host of the event would continue.

“We are disappointed that Malaysia has decided not to submit a proposal for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and thank them for their work to date and commitment,” the spokesman said.

“The confidential process to determine a host is continuing with other interested Com­m­o­nwealth Ga­mes Associations.”

Victoria’s sudden move, and the lack of an obvious alternative, raised questions over the future of the Games, which take place every four years and were last held in Birmingham in 2022.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2024