RELATED: Victorian regional cities games bid
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UPDATE 3.20PM
The driving force behind regional Victoria’s 2030 Commonwealth Games bid has publicly apologised to fellow councils for failing to inform them of the plan sooner.
Bendigo council was informed of the collaborative bid, which will involve 11 towns across the state, on Wednesday.
And while Bendigo mayor Margaret O’Rourke made light of the short notice, saying “it was a surprise, but not blindsided”, Greater Shepparton Mayor Dinny Adem said he understood why some councils “might be peeved”.
“Half of the letters (informing councils) went out late last week, half went out Monday,” Cr Adem said.
Bendigo is currently placed to hold the track cycling, diving, swimming and women’s basketball, but Cr Adem said the list will be subject to change.
“We hope councils come to us and say ‘hey, you’ve put us down for this, but we can host this, this and this’,” Cr Adem said.
“Nothing is set in stone; it’s just a conversation starter.”
UPDATE 2.15PM
A local swimming coach has questioned whether Bendigo’s aquatic infrastructure is big enough to host an international event.
The $31 million Greater Bendigo Indoor Aquatic Leisure Centre, currently under construction, will have an eight-lane Olympic swimming pool.
However, Bendigo Hawks Aquatic Head Coach James Sherlock believed 10-lane pools were the international competition standard.
“On the swimming side of things it’s definitely not big enough,” he said.
“Compared to Ballarat's new indoor (aquatic) centre Bendigo is a long way behind.”
Mr Sherlock also questioned the space available for spectators in the leisure centre.
“I can't imagine they are going to build an outdoor pool like they did at MSAC for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (in 2006),” he said.
Commonwealth Games Australia have been contacted to clarify the requirements of international aquatic facilities.
UPDATE 1.16PM
A prominent Australian sports betting company rates regional Victoria as early favourites to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Regional Victoria ($4.00) was shortest priced to host the event, while Canadian cities of Edmonton ($6.00) and Toronto ($7.00) were considered next most likely to host.
Adelaide is rated a $11 chance, Perth pays $13, while Sydney and Melbourne are both $15 shots, according to Sportsbet.com.au.
English bids from Birmingham, Liverpool (both $8.00) and London ($9.00) round out the betting of cities in single digit odds.
Sportsbet.com.au market odds.
2030 Commonwealth Games Host
- $4.00 Regional Victoria
- $6.00 Edmonton
- $7.00 Toronto
- $8.00 Birmingham
- $8.00 Liverpool
- $9.00 London
- $10 Port Moresby
- $11 Adelaide
- $13 Perth
- $15 Sydney
- $15 Melbourne
Selected others:
- $81 Darwin
- $101 Gold Coast
EARLIER
Bendigo’s mayor has thrown her initial support behind a collective regional bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, despite learning of the plan on Wednesday.
Eleven regional towns, including Bendigo, will share hosted events in the pioneering bid driven by the The Greater Shepparton City Council.
Bendigo is tentatively placed to hold the track cycling, diving, swimming and women’s basketball.
Mayor Margaret O’Rourke said it was “incredibly exciting” and “right out of the box”.
Cr O’Rourke, who will attend a meeting to discuss the bid later this month, said Bendigo’s sporting infrastructure needed to meet international standards.
“Our aquatic centre and basketball centres (currently being constructed) are some of the best in Victoria,” Cr O’Rourke said.
“We need (financial) help, we need the state and federal government
“These things bring tourism, better facilities over time.
“This might be a way we can get even better infrastructure for our community.”
Cr O’Rourke said the joint bid was a surprise.
“Everyday in local government there’s always something new, but you take it in your stride. Yes it was a surprise, but not blindsided,” Cr O’Rourke said.
“I think we need to understand a bit more about the task force and the bid before we answer those questions.”
The initial event hosting list could be subject to change, according to the mayor.
“I see that first list as potentially a first cut, and we’ll go from there.”
Bendigo Stadium is down to host the women’s basketball, while Shepparton Sports Stadium will cater for the men’s competition.
The proposed venues for Commonwealth games events include:
- Aquatics including Para-Swimming Events - Greater Bendigo Indoor Aquatic Leisure Centre
- Athletics including Para-Athletic Events - Shepparton Sports Precinct at a new stadium
- Badminton - Ballarat Badminton Centre
- Boxing - Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports and Entertainment Complex in Traralgon
- Hockey - Geelong Stead Park Hockey Centre
- Lawn Bowls including Para-Lawn Bowls - Shepparton Park Bowls Club
- Netball - Ballarat Sports and Events Centre
- Men's and Women's Rugby 7's - Simonds Stadium - Geelong
- Squash - Shepparton Sports Stadium
- Weightlifting and Para-Powerlifting - Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports and Entertainment
- Men's Basketball - Shepparton Sports Stadium
- Women's Basketball - Bendigo Stadium
- Road Cycling - Warrnambool and Port Campbell
- Mountain Bike Cycling - Mount Buller
- Track Cycling - Bendigo's Tom Flood Centre
- Diving - Greater Bendigo Indoor Aquatic Leisure Centre
- Gymnastics - Geelong Convention Centre
- Rowing - Lake Nagambie
- Sailing - Lake Mulwala, Yarrawonga
- Tennis - Wodonga Lawn Tennis Centre
- Triathlon - Victoria Park Lake, Shepparton