The Government in British Columbia announced that they would not support it, leaving the Canadian city without the necessary financial backing to continue.

Carole James, the Finance Minister of British Columbia, did, however, claim they may support a bid for 2030 when the Games will be celebrating its centenary.

The first event - known as the British Empire Games - was held in Hamilton in Canada.  

"Victoria had a bold and ambitious vision for their citizens and communities for 2022, and we’ll work closely with them to ensure a positive legacy from this bid process," David Grevemberg, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, told insidethegames.

"Understandably the accelerated timelines aren’t optimal for them this time, but we strongly encourage the partners to continue the engagement and momentum so they are in the best possible position for future bids as we approach the Games Movement’s centenary in 2030."

Victoria 2022 were seeking nearly CAD$955 million (£586 million/$755 million/€643 million) to host the Games, including CAD$400 million (£245 million/$316 million€269 million) from the Province and another CAD$400 million from the Federal Government.

The CGF believe Victoria's proposed operating budget was on a par with Glasgow 2014 and was not unrealistic. 

Hosting the Commonwealth Games would have brought almost CAD$1 billion (£623 million/$799 million/€678 million) to Greater Victoria - and local taxpayers would have paid less than two per cent of that amount, Victoria 2022 bid leader David Black had claimed.

James had doubts over the costs, however. 

"We have analysed the Bid Committee's work and see that too many details remain unknown to fully understand the costs, obligations and risks associated with hosting such a large-scale event," she had said in a statement released yesterday.

Even if British Columbia had backed Victoria there is no guarantee that the Federal Government would have supported it as they may have prioritised other major events. 

Canada is set to be a co-host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with the United States and Mexico, while Calgary is considering a bid for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games that year. 

Canada has not hosted the Commonwealth Games since Victoria staged them in 1994 and is now expected to prioritise a bid for 2030.

Victoria was the second Canadian city to drop out of the running for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

At the start of the process, Edmonton had been Durban's only rival but withdrew seven months before the final vote due to the worldwide falling oil prices. 

Durban were awarded the Games as the only city still bidding in September 2015.

But the CGF stripped the South African city of the event in March following their failure to meet a series of financial deadlines. 

Edmonton may decide to re-enter bidding for the 2030 Commonwealth Games along with Toronto, who had expressed an early interest in 2022 after Durban had the event taken away from them. 

With Canada out of the running, it strengthens the proposed bid from England to replace Durban.

The British Government is currently evaluating bids from Birmingham and Liverpool and are due to announce their choice next month.

Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital which hosted the 1998 Commonwealth Games, had expressed a desire to replace Durban but do not currently have the backing of the country's Government.

Australia has also expressed an interest, but this seems unlikely with Gold Coast hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The country has said they will only formally enter the race if another host cannot be found.