Alberta Pulls Out of Bid for 2030 Commonwealth Games

Fireworks erupt over the Alexander Stadium during the closing ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, on Aug. 8, 2022. Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images

Alberta has pulled out of the running for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the high cost being a big factor in the reason why.

“Based on current bid estimates, hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games could result in a cost of up to $2.68 billion,” the province said in an Aug. 3 news release. “The corporate sponsorship model and limited broadcast revenues for the Commonwealth Games would have put 93 percent of those costs and risks on taxpayers.”

The province said that while Alberta has a successful history of hosting major sporting events, “any proposal to host major games is considered with the interests of Alberta taxpayers at top of mind.”

The province was considering a joint bid between Calgary, Edmonton, and the Tsuut’ina Nation for the 2030 event.

“As one of the 40 best sports cities in the world, we were truly excited to unite people worldwide in a celebration of sport and culture,” Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said in a statement.

“Edmonton will continue hosting national and international events and showcase talented athletes of all ages and abilities while building legacies and lifetime memories for our community.”

The Commonwealth Games Federation, which oversees the games, also released a statement.

“The Commonwealth Games Federation is sorry to hear that Alberta is no longer developing its bid proposal for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. We thank all those who worked on Alberta’s inspiring and comprehensive plan,” it said, adding it believes Alberta could be a great host for future games.

Alberta’s announcement is the second high-profile withdrawal in as many months. In July, the Australian state of Victoria announced it was pulling out of its plan to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, also citing cost as a main factor.

“We had already been reviewing our selection timeline as a result of the recent Victorian Government decision. The dialogue with other potential hosts is on-going,” the federation’s statement said.