Ahmedabad to bid for 2026 Commonwealth Games after Victoria’s pullout?

A day after Australian state Victoria backed out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, The Times of India has reported that the Gujarat state goverment is likely to bid for the marquee event.

While preparations are underway in the state to bid for 2036 Olympics with infrastructure likely to be ready by 2026, the TOI has cited quoting sources, 'Gujarat government is actively considering the prospect of bidding to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games and is hopeful that the Union Government will be in favour of Ahmedabad's bidding.'

Gujarat government is constructing two sport complexes around the massive Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad that will host sports of various Olympic disciplines.

The Sardar Vallabbhai Patel Sports Enclave, one of the two complexes, is to be built over an area of 236 acres at the stadium and is expected to cost about Rs 4,600 crore.

The Gujarat government's decision to bid, as reported by TOI, comes even as Victoria cited major budgeting issues as the reason for withdrawin as host.

The calculated cost of A$2.6 billion was running higher upto A$7 billion, an amount the Victorian Premier was not ready to spend.