Add Category
Geelong's Kardinia Park will host the closing ceremony for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Key points:
- Geelong will host the closing ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games
- The government will invest nearly $300 million in new facilities in the region
- The opening ceremony will be held at the MCG
The games are set to run from March 17 to 29 in 2026 and will take place across multiple Victorian regional hubs in Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Geelong and Gippsland.
"This is the best sporting venue in regional Australia, so it really makes great sense to host the closing ceremony here," Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan said of the venue choice.
The Geelong suburb of Waurn Ponds will play host to the athlete's village, securing $292 million in infrastructure funding for the city.
Geelong is also set to host aquatics events such as swimming, para-swimming and diving in a purpose-built facility in the suburb of Armstrong Creek.
The region will also play host to events such as coastal rowing, weightlifting, golf and women's T20 cricket.
Games spending to leave last impression on Geelong
Ms Allan said the benefits of the hundreds of millions in funding would continue for years to come.
The purpose-built venues will be converted into community facilities and affordable housing following the 2026 Games to alleviate shortages in the rapidly growing suburb of Waurn Ponds.
"Given housing is a bit of a pressure point in many parts of regional Victoria now, and will be into the future," Ms Allan said.
"This is a lasting legacy that will be left for many decades following the exciting competition phase of the Commonwealth Games."
It is expected that the state government will provide the majority of the funding for the event.
""I would think that the state government will do the heavy lifting on funding the games," Commonwealth Games chief Craig Phillips said in February.
Recent Commonwealth Games have been mired in financial controversy.
The 2010 Delhi Games cost a reported $15 billion and was marred by a corruption scandal, while the 2022 hosting rights were stripped from Durban in South Africa by the Commonwealth Games Federation due to financial constraints.
The eventual 2022 games in Birmingham cost the UK government £778 million [$1.409 billion] of public funding.
Premier Daniel Andrews called it a "fantastic" opportunity for regional Victoria, spruiking the closing ceremony's venue as "Labor's stadium".
"When you think of Kardinia Park … Labor's stadium, we built every stage of that, it is just an amazing facility. The best stadium in regional Australia," Mr Andrews said.
"We get a chance — a once in a generation chance — not just to re-run the 2006 games but to do something very different."
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the Coalition was supportive of the event, but called for more focus to be put on regional Victoria.
"If this is a Commonwealth Games for regional Victoria, then the biggest stadium outside of Melbourne, which is in Geelong, should be used for the opening and closing ceremonies," Mr Guy said.
The opening ceremony is currently due to be held on March 17, 2026 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.