- By Tiffanie Turnbull & Hannah Ritchie
- BBC News, Sydney
Image source, Getty Images
Historically Australia has been one of the most enthusiastic hosts of the Commonwealth Games
Fifteen months ago, a proud Daniel Andrews strode into a regional Australian stadium and announced Victoria state would host the 2026 Commonwealth Games – promising “a games like no other”.
But on Tuesday Mr Andrews – decidedly less jubilant – faced a media pack as he tersely revealed the state he leads would walk away from its contract.
It throws plans for the event into chaos and the future of the Games into doubt.
After a tough few years for organisers, experts say this could be the final straw.
“This could spell the end of the Commonwealth Games,” says Steve Georgakis, a sports studies lecturer at the University of Sydney.
“It could be a death knell,” Australian sports historian Matthew…