Gonzo Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 I for one welcome King Charles III & Queen Camilla opening the Melbourne 2026 games Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 https://amp.abc.net.au/article/100765884 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanMUC Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 1 hour ago, Gonzo said: I for one welcome King Charles III & Queen Camilla opening the Melbourne 2026 games Don‘t discount Lizzie yet. Though they sure won‘t ask Andrew to stand in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulu Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 1 hour ago, Gonzo said: I for one welcome King Charles III & Queen Camilla opening the Melbourne 2026 games I think most Aussies would be happy for them to give it a miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Australian Kiwi Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 23 minutes ago, ulu said: I think most Aussies would be happy for them to give it a miss. We can't have it both ways though - its the Commonwealth Games. They are at the centre of the event (even if ceremonially). The Olympics is different where I strongly believe it should only be the role of the Governor General to open an Australian Olympics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 Victorian Opposition leader supports the bid https://amp.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/victoria/regional-cities-keen-to-help-host-2026-commonwealth-games-20220119-p59pfb.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorchbearerSydney Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 The Opposition supporting Victoria 2026 is huge- there is an election later this year in Victoria, the Premier can now back a bid without fearing being politically attacked for 'wasting money'.....my guess is this getting over the line in time for Birmingham... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 Swimming, Diving, Squash, Table Tennis: MSAC Athletics: MCG Archery: Punt Road Oval Badminton, Boxing, Weightlifting, Judo, Powerlifting: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Basketball 3x3: Kia Arena or Federation Square Cricket: Junction Oval, Marvel Stadium Cycling: John Cain Arena Gymnastics: Rod Laver Arena Hockey: State Netball Hockey Centre Netball: State Netball Hockey Centre, Margaret Court Arena Lawn Bowls: Darebin State Lawn Bowls Centre Rugby Sevens: AAMI Park Shooting: Melbourne Gun Club Triathlon: St Kilda Beach Volleyball: Kia Arena, National Tennis Centre?, St Kilda Beach Regional venues: BALLARAT Mars Stadium Ballarat Minordome Ballarat Sports and Events Centre Eastern Oval BENDIGO Bendigo Stadium Queen Elizabeth Oval GEELONG GMHBA Stadium Geelong Arena MOE Ted Summerton Reserve MORWELL Latrobe City Stadium SHEPPARTON Deakin Reserve Shepparton Sports City TRARALGON Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 Support from our Australian athletes … 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 I think Melbourne would be nice for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, if so it would mark 20 years since the city hosted it in 2006. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 20 Report Share Posted January 20 5 hours ago, SportLightning said: I think Melbourne would be nice for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, if so it would mark 20 years since the city hosted it in 2006. And the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Olympic Games 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted January 20 Report Share Posted January 20 55 minutes ago, Victorian said: And the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Olympic Games Yep. That's Right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 20 Report Share Posted January 20 https://twitter.com/TripleMPerth/status/1483594900239429632?s=20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Do we think aspects of the MCG redevelopment could be worked on and completed before a 2026 games? I doubt there is enough time of the GSS redevelopment however the decking of the rail yards could for sure be done. It would like the MCG to Melbourne Park which would most likely host some other events at the games (AAMI Park, RLA, JCA, MCA, Kia Arena etc plus a potential media centre at the Australian Open media centre. They could name the deck/square Commonwealth Square? Melbourne Park Media Centre- Centrepiece https://www.melbournecb.com.au/blog/post/centrepiece-at-melbourne-park-revealed-as-name-of-mops-new-function-media-centre/ The new Marvel Stadium redevelopment is due to be completed in late 2023 GMHBA Stadium in Geelong is also due to be completed before 2026. Another oval stadium. Could help to host Cricket. KIA Arena has just been completed and is a nice little arena that would come in handy. Right in the middle of Melbourne Park. I have suggested above maybe Beach Volleyball? Margaret Court Arena (also in Melbourne Park) is another venue that would be handy right in the heart of Melbourne Park. It has a retractable roof too and has hosted Basketball and Netball along with Tennis at the AO. Wasn't around in 2006 so we have two newer venues in the area that would be useful for a CWG. The State Netball Hockey Centre in Parkville which was used in 2006 has also just received a new redevelopment to update facilities. The State Basketball Centre is also undergoing a major redevelopment and will also house Gymnastics Victoria. I am not too sure if they would be able to fit crowds into the Gymnastics area or if it is just a training facility (even if it is training, it is still a great facility to have for the games). The basketball courts could host come events with temporary seating. I am sure if cricket is included (which I hope it is especially when cricket is aimed to be in Brisbane 2032) that some games especially women's matches will be held at the Junction Oval in St Kilda, just down the road from MSAC and near St Kilda beach. Regional centres are interested in hosting however, I would assume most of the major events though (Athletics, Swimming, Cycling, Ceremonies) would be held in Melbourne. The 'leftovers' would then be held in regional Victoria. There is no chance the major sports are hosed in Regional Vic. They do not have the major stadia required to do so. Most might have a regional indoor basketball stadium and a football/cricket oval.. Maybe a rectangular soccer field too. 9 News understands that events will be centred around Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat with some events also in Bendigo, Shepparton and the Latrobe Valley. One positive though is regional stadia and facilities may get a redevelopment and upgrade which will be much needed however is 4 years really enough to get the redevelopments done especially when starting from scratch with no planning yet etc? Travel time into the country will also be an issue as V-Line trains are really the only option and they appear to be unreliable too. In saying that, 2006 included events in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Lysterfield Park and Traralgon (most of them were Basketball though and regular Basketball is no longer on the CWG list of sports. Melbourne could easily host the games on their own without regional Victoria. I definitely think the games should be moved to later in the year (October-November 2026) to buy some more preparation time. According to looking up online how long it would take for an athletics track to be built, approx 10-12 weeks to build the track. I don't know if they would be able to fast track it? If there needs to be any rows of seating taken out earlier, this could be done prior to the end of the football season- it would just mean there would be a smaller crowd size at finals and Grand Final. They could start the AFL season earlier so the Grand Final is in the first weekend of September then the MCG would be ready for late November for the Commonwealth Games. Looking back on the dates of past games, the following have been later in the year (September plus) Perth 1962- 22 Nov-1 Dec Brisbane 1982- 30 Sep-9 Oct Kuala Lumpur 1998- 11 Sep-21 Sep Delhi 2010- 3 Oct-14 Oct As you can see, the majority have been either early or middle of the year but there has been cities before that held the games later in the year (twice in Australia too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorchbearerSydney Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Melbourne has so many great venues....it really could host the Olympics with a couple of years notice! The Comm Games will be easy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Australian Kiwi Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 1 hour ago, TorchbearerSydney said: Melbourne has so many great venues....it really could host the Olympics with a couple of years notice! The Comm Games will be easy... Agree - the only venue which it lacks is a whitewater facility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshi Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 That Geelong stadium looks like it could take a track if they wanted a more regional Victorian games. I'm not too keen on the G being used tbh, it's really too big for the Commonwealth Games - the scale of 06 is possibly part of why it's been so hard to get cities interested since. Whatever, love Melbourne, it always hosts every event well and frankly it's good that it'll be somewhere. Bring on the end of the alternation with Canada 2030 after. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 5 hours ago, yoshi said: That Geelong stadium looks like it could take a track if they wanted a more regional Victorian games. I'm not too keen on the G being used tbh, it's really too big for the Commonwealth Games - the scale of 06 is possibly part of why it's been so hard to get cities interested since. Whatever, love Melbourne, it always hosts every event well and frankly it's good that it'll be somewhere. Bring on the end of the alternation with Canada 2030 after. The stadium in Geelong is too narrow for an athletics track Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 5 hours ago, Victorian said: The stadium in Geelong is too narrow for an athletics track Yeah, i agree. Hamilton (Canada) could focus on 2030 Commonwealth Games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 12 hours ago, yoshi said: That Geelong stadium looks like it could take a track if they wanted a more regional Victorian games. I'm not too keen on the G being used tbh, it's really too big for the Commonwealth Games - the scale of 06 is possibly part of why it's been so hard to get cities interested since. Whatever, love Melbourne, it always hosts every event well and frankly it's good that it'll be somewhere. Bring on the end of the alternation with Canada 2030 after. I had a look at it and put an athletics track (Landy Field for ref) onto Kardinia Park, it almost sits perfectly with limited seats having to be removed to fit the track. This does include the pits on the inside of the track though. The new redevelopment will house 40,000 plus so maybe that is the best bet? I still think though have the Opening Ceremony at the MCG. It will still pack out 100,000 for a CWG Opening Ceremony then follow Glasgow 2014 and have the Closing Ceremony in Geelong at GMHBA Stadium (Kardinia Park). This link will provide some detail on the redevelopment: https://www.kardiniapark.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Planning-Report_Stage-5-Redevelopment-of-Kardinia-Park-Stadium_4.pdf Below is a map of the area. There is a short walk to Landy Field which could be used for warm up or they could put a temporary track at St Mary's Sporting club field? GCG won't be touched. South Geelong station is a short walk however, it is not a big station at all. Maybe they look at a Kardinia Park station to be built with multiple platforms right next to the station? This is one of the downsides of regional venues. GC was bad enough getting out of the stadium, it will be a nightmare in Geelong as well. Below is a birds eye view of MCG in 2006. It does show there were some seats taken out. Below is a comparison of the Melbourne Park/MCG area from 2006 to 2021. There has been massive changes and a few extra arenas that would be very handy for 2026. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 This was the proposed Greater Victoria 2030 Commonwealth Games bid venues. Some of these could be used for the 2026 event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulu Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 Melbourne Park is such a cheat code. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 Just now, ulu said: Melbourne Park is such a cheat code. What do you mean such a cheat code? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 I know I am probably getting a bit ahead of myself but as a proud Melbourne boy and proud Victoria, I find it hard to see no excitement in this. Brisbane 2032 will be awesome but my heart will always remain true to Melbourne and the fact I missed 2006 since i was only 4 yo, I think this will be an amazing moment for our city and something I will be incredibly proud to be a part of. Hopefully, I will be a volunteer, attend the ceremonies, the events and fingers crossed, hopefully carry the Queens Baton. When should we expect an announcement? Is March still the deadline? They will need to prepare a handover ceremony. I cannot imagine our Premier, Dan Andrews attending due to the delicate political situation here in Victoria following COVID-19 and lockdowns however, our Lord Mayor Sally Capp could well be in attendance to accept the flag and bring it home to Melbourne. The Closing Ceremony will take place from 7-9am Melbourne time so they could do a live cross however, there won't be many people in attendance (although I for sure will be there if there is anything!) I hope they get Paul Kelly to sing Leaps and Bounds at the 2022 Closing Ceremony during the handover ceremony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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