Federation wants Canada to pitch for 2030 Commonwealth Games

Governing body’s chief lauds bid for Games as ‘bold, ambitious vision’

The Commonwealth Games Federation is urging Victoria to stay in the game for the 2030 Games, the year it is expected the event will return to its birthplace of Canada for its centennial.

Reports indicate the governing body was impressed by Victoria’s bid for the 2022 Games, which died last week when the provincial government declined a bid committee funding request for $400 million and guarantee to cover cost over-runs on the proposed $955-million project.

“Victoria had a bold and ambitious vision for its citizens and communities for 2022, and we’ll work closely with them to ensure a positive legacy from this bid process,” David Grevemberg, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, told Inside the Games, a website that monitors international sport.

The 2022 Games do not involve a normal bidding process, as it is an emergency replacement situation. The Games were withdrawn from the original host, Durban, in March when the South African organizers could not meet financial obligations.

“Understandably, the accelerated timelines aren’t optimal for [Victoria] this time,” Grevemberg said. “But we strongly encourage the partners to continue the engagement and momentum so they are in the best possible position for future bids as we approach the Games movement’s centenary in 2030.”

Victoria bid chairman David Black said he appreciated the words of support, but doubted the 2030 Commonwealth Games are going anywhere except to Hamilton, Ont., where the first Games were held in 1930.

“Victoria 2030 would be great. But the 2030 Games would surely go to Hamilton,” he said referring to what he expects would be the internal support from Canada for a bid.

B.C. Finance Minister Carole James alluded to 2030 when she said the province was not in a position to support the 2022 Games bid, although she lauded the bid committee’s “energy and passion.”

“If it doesn’t work now, why would it work in 2030?” countered Black.

The reason 2026 is not being considered for a Canadian Commonwealth Games bid is because Canada will likely host 10 World Cup soccer matches that year, as co-host with the U.S. and Mexico, and Calgary is considering a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The race to become the replacement host for the 2022 Commonwealth Games is basically down to two bids — Liverpool and Birmingham — with the British government set to announce next month which city it will put forward to the federation.

Kuala Lumpur has also expressed interest, but now may see a better opening in 2026.

Stan Bartlett, chairman of the Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria and a leading critic of the 2022 bid, said several conditions must be met before such an event is considered.

“We believe the Commonwealth Games can bring considerable benefits to a community — provided they are widely supported, transparent and affordable,” he said.

“The dysfunction and the failed governance structure of the capital region, with its 13 jurisdictions, continues to hamper our community from living up to its potential.”

While the local bid was not successful, it did reignite conversation about the pros and cons of Greater Victoria working to attract international sports events, said Hugh MacDonald, executive director of SportHost Victoria.

The region has played host to several big events since the 1994 Commonwealth Games, including the 2006 Pan-Pacific swim championships, 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup of soccer, national and world championships in curling and international men’s and women’s rugby.

“We have the world junior hockey championships in 2019, but what comes after that?” MacDonald said. “The 2020 Invictus Games?”

He said that opportunity is being analyzed, with three observers from Victoria going to this year’s Invictus Games next month in Toronto.

“We have also officially sent in our proposal for Greater Victoria to be a training base camp for teams in the 2026 World Cup.”