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Wales will not be bidding to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026, the Welsh Government has confirmed.

Economy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates said that following a detailed feasibility study - and given the "current financial uncertainty" following the Brexit Vote - the Welsh Government's cabinet had concluded it is not in a position to bid.

He said the total cost of a bid would have been up to £1.54bn, which would put a huge strain on the financial budget of the Welsh Government over the next three Assembly terms.

However, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, David Grevemberg, said he was surprised at what he described as the "ambitious costs quoted," saying that the last games in Glasgow in 2014 were operationally delivered for just £543m.

The last time Wales hosted the games, then known as the Empire Games, was in Cardiff in 1958.

There was immediate disappointment

Mr Skates said: "We have now fully considered that feasibility study, which sets out total projected costs for a Wales bid of between £1.32bn and £1.54bn.

“Such costs would involve a huge additional financial commitment from Welsh Government over three Assembly terms.

“Given the high cost, our understanding that an all-Wales bid was less likely to be supported and the current funding uncertainty following the vote to leave the EU, we have reluctantly concluded that the bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games is not feasible.

“I would stress that the work we have undertaken has not been wasted. It has highlighted the need for us to undertake a review of sports facilities in Wales with a view to increasing our spread of world class venues."

Mr Grevemberg said: "We are obviously disappointed to hear Wales will not be putting itself forward to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games when the bid process commences in 2019.

"We’re also surprised by the ambitious costs quoted and attributed to the Games, given the last edition of the Games in Glasgow in 2014 was operationally delivered for £543m - and indeed £32m under budget - according to an independent Audit Scotland report.



"Commonwealth Games Wales, in collaboration with its government partners, has worked hard to lay the foundations of a dynamic, innovative and inclusive Games proposition and we will continue to work closely with them to support their efforts to bring the Commonwealth Games back to Wales in the future.

"We now look forward enthusiastically to working with other Commonwealth cities and partners over the next three years as part of the lead up to the 2026 bidding process.”

There had been a growing clamour for Wales to bid for the Games.

And several MPs criticised the decision.

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said: "I am disappointed that the 2026 bid has been shelved, after having worked closely with a number of sporting bodies in Wales and the Commonwealth Games Federation to facilitate and encourage a major bid.



"There are of course uncertainties about the world post-Brexit, but the economic benefits of the Commonwealth Games are vast. I cannot overstate the value of Wales continuing to cement an international reputation for hosting and delivering sporting and cultural events.



"Now is the time to pursue the large economic prizes for Wales with the same spirit our footballers showed in the Euro 2016 tournament. The announcement today is all the more disappointing when the bid for the Commonwealth Games was only recently included in the manifestos of all political parties in Wales.”

Cardiff North MP Craig Williams said: "This is a short sighted decision by the Welsh Labour Government and misses yet another opportunity to put Wales on the international stage.

"Their manifesto stated how the games would help Wales become more united, connected and confident, yet they are happy to break this pledge.”

"There were early stage discussions between the Westminster and Welsh Governments over a 2026 bid.

"It is very premature for the Welsh Government to abort a possible bid. The Welsh Government must now publish its due diligence and business case as we need to see openness and transparency from Cardiff Bay.”

Plaid MP Rhun ap Iorwerth described the decision as "lamentable".

(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

And Adam Price AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr said: "Rather than show resilience and send a clear message that Wales can weather the Brexit storm, the Labour Government seems to be resigning to the fact that the challenges facing our economy are insurmountable.

"If anything, the UK's decision to leave the European Union should be an incentive, not a deterrent, to taking bold steps to attract new investment to Wales.

"Hosting the Commonwealth Games ten years from now would have acted as a huge global shop window for Wales, allowing us to showcase the best of our great nation to the world."

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Mr Skates continued: “We have some big sporting events to look forward to, with the UEFA Champions League final being held in Cardiff next year and the Volvo Ocean Race coming to Wales in 2018. We will continue to work to attract further high profile sporting and cultural events to Wales.

“I want to thank Commonwealth Games Wales for all their work on this and the Commonwealth Games Federation for their positive response to the unprecedented regional delivery models we considered.

"Hosting a future Commonwealth Games remains a Welsh ambition and we will continue to discuss flexible delivery options for future bid cycles."

(Image: Clint Hughes/Getty Images)

Helen Phillips, chair of Commonwealth Games Wales said: “Naturally we are disappointed to hear of the Welsh Government’s decision not to support a bid for Wales to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. In light of the current economic uncertainty, we do however fully understand the reasons.

"Over the last few years we have worked closely with the Welsh Government and other partners on the feasibility assessment for bidding and hosting the 2026 Games.

"We have also engaged with the Commonwealth Games family and there has been much excitement about our innovative bid proposals.

“Welsh athletes have been strong supporters of the work we have undertaken and we must now continue to give our full attention to ensuring we have robust selection standards and appoint outstanding support teams to create a world class performance environment in Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.”

She added: "We reviewed several options including an All-Wales, South & North East Wales and a South only Games, always having in mind what would attract other Commonwealth Games association's votes and what would attract the Commonwealth's best athletes.

"All the hard work done over the last few years shows that Wales could develop a winning bid and host a fantastic Commonwealth Games. This would bring benefits for the whole nation especially in terms of health and wellbeing, with the Active Wales programme as part of the journey to the games."

In a tweet Mr Price described the decision as a 'huge own goal" saying that hosting the games would have been a massive boost to promoting the profile of Wales globally.

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Sports Neil McEvoy AM said:“This is just another example of Labour blowing it when it comes to sport in Wales.

"In 2012 they scrapped the WBC World Boxing Convention and accompanying superfight, which the whole world would have seen.

"When we qualified for the Euros they refused to have a fanzone in Cardiff until so many people demanded one they had to give in.

"In other places like Wrexham they never got a fanzone. When sports fans campaigned for Wales to have its own cricket team their leadership contender Owen Smith called them parochial and narrow-minded.

"What’s more parochial and narrow-minded than turning down the chance to show off Wales to the world?

"Only one party truly cares about sport in Wales and that’s the Party of Wales – Plaid Cymru.”