New Zealand put hand up for 2034 Commonwealth Games
Ben McKay |
New Zealand is interested in a nationwide bid for the 2034 Commonwealth Games, and has lodged its formal interest with the event’s governing body.
New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) chief executive Nikki Nicol made the announcement in Brisbane on Wednesday.
“We want to be very clear this concept is about a nation not a city, and we’d be looking to develop a Games that would help achieve nationwide goals and engage young and diverse communities in sport,” she said.
The next edition of the multi-sport event will be staged under a similar multi-city model, with regional Victorian centres playing host in 2026.
New Zealand has hosted the Commonwealth Games, on three previous occasions – in Auckland (1950, 1990) and Christchurch (1974).
Nicol admitted financial viability was a “challenge”, given the cost of hosting the games.
“We do respect the economic environment we’re in,” she said.
“That’s the challenge for us, to come up with a model that’s fiscally responsible but can also showcase the best of our athletes and the best of New Zealand.”
The NZOC claimed bipartisan support for a fourth New Zealand Games from the major Labour and National political parties.
The nation’s Sport Minister Grant Robertson said he was proud to support the exploration of making a formal bid to the Commonwealth Games Federation.
“It’s early days for this process … further work needs to be done to understand New Zealand’s position before considering whether to make a formal bid for the 2034 games,” he said.
“But I am excited at the prospect and potential for us to host it here.”
Hosting the Commonwealth Games would give New Zealand the chance to influence the sports on display, with Nicol saying any bid would look to give the event a Kiwi flavour.
“There are some sports that are very traditional. We’d want to protect that,” she said.
“We’d want to look at a lens about what is great for New Zealand, the sports we participate in well and that we love.
“And importantly, what’s also relevant to the Pacific. This would be an opportunity to bring in those areas.”
AAP
