Other Sports: OCM insist they can host 2026 Commonwealth Games without bursting budget

PETALING JAYA: We don’t have to break the bank.

Olympics Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary-general Datuk Nazifuddin Najib believes Malaysia can host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 without bursting their budget if they follow the right strategy.

They may even explore option of co-hosting with Singapore, use the model of organising the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur and scale down the number of sports.

Nazifuddin said the rakyat need not worry about the extra cost as they will be able to manage with the grant of about RM600mil from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and minimise the cost as how they did when they hosted the last SEA Games at home.

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Stressing that it would be a chance of a life time, Nazifuddin assured it would be sustainable.

“It’s a golden chance for us because we will have the grant. We can’t compare it with the budget planned for Victoria and even the 1998 Commonwealth Games. The model has changed,” said Nazifuddin after the Olympic Games team managers’ meeting at Wisma OCM on Monday.

Australia has turned down the hosting job and the CGF have offered the task to Malaysia.

“CGF want to make the Games more sustainable and we aim to do that. We are not going to build a Games Village – that’s one of the reasons why the cost for Victoria ballooned.

“We will follow the 2017 SEA Games method where we used hotels and other facilities instead of building new infrastructure. Instead of building, we will refurbish the facilities that are already there.

“We will also reduce the number of sports. The plan is to have 13-15 sports.

“Many of our youngsters have not felt the spirit of the Commonwealth Games, they have only felt the SEA Games vibe in 2017. The 1998 Games edition had a good spillover effect in terms of sports.”

The decision to host the Games is now in the hands of the government with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirming that a decision would be made next week.

Nazifuddin said OCM together with other sports stakeholders have submitted a planning paper on hosting the Games to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who will table it during the cabinet meeting on Wednesday in Putrajaya.

He said he was aware of the concerns raised by the public and those who were fearful that hosting the Games would cost taxpayers’ money.

Some have even inquired on the accounts for the 1998 Commonwealth Games and 2017 SEA Games but Nazifuddin believes that under the current leadership, there would be transparency.

“I am sure the Games will have a positive impact on the economy. Under the leadership of the current minister, I’m sure there will be transparency,” he said.

“If we do not host major Games like the Commonwealth, we will not push ourselves to develop sports further. We believe that organising these Games will inspire new athletes.

“Look at Singapore. They got the exclusive right to Taylor Swift’s concert for a few millions and had huge returns.

“I cannot guarantee what the return on investment (ROI) will be for the Commonwealth Games, but I’m sure that there will be a spillover effect and we will work on a balanced budget.

“It’s nothing like having the Games in your own country. It would be a great opportunity for Malaysia.”