Canada sports news

Canada targets 2030 Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games Canada chief executive Brian MacPherson plans to ask for the 2030 edition of the multi-sport event to be earmarked for his country at next month’s Commonwealth Games Federation general assembly.

MacPherson is hoping to receive support for the concept of hosting the Games 100 years on from the inaugural British Empire Games – the forerunner to the Commonwealth Games – in Hamilton in 1930.

MacPherson admitted that the chances of Canada being guaranteed the Games at this stage are “remote”, especially as several Australian cities have already expressed an interest in hosting the event. The CGF general assembly will take place in Gold Coast, Australia, coinciding with this year’s edition of the Commonwealth Games.

“It will be in our plan to ask for that (support),” MacPherson told the National Post.

“Given that it’s the 100th anniversary and it’s been so long since Canada hosted our international friends, just give us the Games.”

MacPherson added that “the old bidding process is dead, but they haven’t told us what the new one is”.

He added: “As long as Calgary has a bid on the table for the 2026 Olympic Games, we would not entertain the 2026 Commonwealth Games. We just won’t. Canada doesn’t need two major Games in the same year and certainly can’t afford two major Games.

“So, we’re out of that game and we focus on 2030. We have interest from a number of cities, including (Edmonton). If we got the nod to host those Games, we will be open and transparent about domestically bidding and seeing which city rises to the top.”