The announcement that Victoria has been chosen to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games has been warmly welcomed by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) heralding it as another opportunity for Australians to unite and inspire the nation through sport.
According to the Chief Executive of the ASC, Kieren Perkins, the March 2026 Commonwealth Games will make history as the first to be staged across multiple cities and regional hubs, including Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland.
“We are incredibly excited to see another opportunity secured for our athletes to compete against the world’s best on home soil,” Mr Perkins said.
“We are truly in the midst of a green and gold decade for Australian sport.”
He said the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games that follows the Commonwealth Games will be among the most thrilling periods in Australian sporting history, with the 2026 Commonwealth Games joining a packed calendar of events which includes this year’s FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, UCI World Road Cycling Championship and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“The ASC, through the Australian Institute of Sport, is committed to ensuring that the Australian high performance sport system continues to achieve sustainable success in the lead up to 2032 and beyond,” Mr Perkins said.
“This is why, with the support of the State and Territory Sport Academies and Institutes, the ASC is leading the development of 2032+ National High Performance Sport Strategy,” he said.
“This strategy will be developed with input and consultation from the entire Australian high performance sport system and will provide our athletes and coaches the best chance to succeed.”
He said success on the international stage is so important to drive grassroots participation and influence and inspire the next generation of athletes.
“For our future sporting stars to have so many opportunities over the next 10 years to see our athletes compete on home soil is invaluable,” Mr Perkins said.
He thanked and congratulated Craig Phillips and the Commonwealth Games Australia team for securing the Games for 2026, saying the Sports Commission looked forward to working with it over the next four years to provide the nation’s athletes, coaches and sports the best chance for success.”
“The ASC, through the Australian Institute of Sport, is committed to ensuring that the Australian high performance sport system continues to achieve sustainable success in the lead up to 2032 and beyond.
“This is why, with the support of the State and Territory Sport Academies and Institutes, the ASC is leading the development of 2032+ National High Performance Sport Strategy.
“This strategy will be developed with input and consultation from the entire Australian high performance sport system and will provide our athletes and coaches the best chance to succeed.
“Success on the international stage is so important to drive grassroots participation and influence and inspire the next generation of athletes. For our future sporting stars to have so many opportunities over the next ten years to see our athletes compete on home soil is invaluable.
“I would like to thank and congratulate Craig Phillips and the Commonwealth Games Australia team for securing the Games for 2026. We look forward to working with you over the next four years to provide our athletes, coaches and sports the best chance for success.”
