Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Commonwealth Games

Sam GROTH (Nepean) (16:40): Today I want to recognise all of those who will be missing out as a result of the Andrews government’s cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This includes athletes, local sporting clubs, small business owners and the wider Victorian community. As a former athlete myself I can speak to the personal pride and gratification that comes with representing Australia, especially on home soil. Pulling on the green and gold is an irreplaceable privilege that has now been taken away from Australian athletes across the nation. They have been robbed of the opportunity to compete at home on the world stage.

Local athletes and sporting communities will feel this decision just as hard. The Commonwealth Games plays a vital role in recruiting Victorians into sports; the next generations of athletes are born from those who are inspired to get involved by seeing their heroes compete here in Victoria. Now they will miss out on this opportunity. Just as this lack of local activity and visitation will impact sporting communities, it also threatens to decimate small businesses, many of whom were relying on the Commonwealth Games for a substantial increase in their incomes. Now they will miss out, and many will be left financially worse off. With this cancellation also comes almost certain delays to legacy infrastructure, leaving social housing, sporting clubs and event spaces even further behind. When it comes to the Andrews government’s callous cancellation of the Commonwealth Games, it is all of Victoria that misses out.