Paralympics Australia President Jock O’Callaghan has made the following statement in response to the Victorian Government’s announcement to withdraw from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games:
“The news that Victoria will not be hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be bitterly disappointing to the athletes aspiring to compete, for all the delivery stakeholders and everyone involved in the planning to date.
“The Commonwealth Games is a unique opportunity for some of our Para-Sports and Para-athletes to experience an integrated program, with Para-athletes and ablebodied athletes competing within one Games and as a unified national team. Our hearts go out to everyone who is impacted.
“We acknowledge the significance of this decision. However, Paralympics Australia will not comment on the decision by the Victorian Government, or on the funding model applied, as these are matters for Commonwealth Games Australia and the Victorian Government.
“Our athletes have entered the critical qualifying phase of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games cycle. Paralympics Australia is committed to supporting our athletes to be at their best. We will support our Member sports and our athletes through this unexpected development so they can focus on qualifying for Paris”.
No further comment will be made.
By: Paralympics Australia
Posted: 19 July 2023
