Victoria pulls out of 2026 Commonwealth Games over cost concerns

FILE PHOTO: Commonwealth Games - Closing Ceremony - Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, Britain - August 8, 2022 Vanessa Amorosi performs during the closing ceremony REUTERS/John Sibley/File Photo

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australia's state of Victoria has scrapped the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to projected cost overruns, placing the future of the quadrennial multi-sport event in doubt.

Victoria Premier Dan Andrews said the cost of the Games, which were to have been held in four regional hubs, could blow out to more than A$7 billion ($4.8 billion) from a budgeted A$2.6 billion if they went ahead.