Malaysia has declined an offer to host the next Commonwealth Games, citing concerns over the cost of the event. The Ministry of Youth and Sports stated that the offer of 100 million pounds in supporting funds from the Commonwealth Games Federation would not cover the expenses of hosting the quadrennial sporting event. Additionally, the ministry expressed doubts about the economic impact of hosting the games in such a short timeframe.
The decision to turn down the offer to host the Commonwealth Games came after Victoria withdrew last year due to estimated cost increases of 6.9 billion Australian dollars. A report by Victoria’s Auditor-General’s Office highlighted that cost estimate leading to cancellation was deemed “overstated and not transparent.” Despite being asked to step in as host, Malaysia has decided against hosting the Commonwealth Games, emphasizing concerns about financial implications associated with hosting such a major sporting event.
This decision by Malaysia reflects a cautious approach to ensure that it does not incur unnecessary costs in hosting such a major event. The Ministry of Youth and Sports stated that it will continue to monitor developments closely and evaluate its options carefully before making any decisions on future events.