Commonwealth Games Australia releases 2023 report, unveils board nominees. 'X'@CommGamesAUS

According to the organisation, 2023 has been "a year of immense success". Darryl Clout, Grant Harrison and Duncan Free are also introduced as candidates for the board.

On 14 May 2024, Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) will take a step forward with the presentation of the 2023 Annual Report. This will summarise all the data and circumstances that characterised the previous year. 

The three candidates vying for a place on the CGA Board will also be introduced in person the following day. All three are highly respected and experienced: Darryl Clout, Grant Harrison and Duncan Free. Two of them will earn the trust. 

Two of the three proposed Board members will be elected. 'X' / COMM GAMES AUS
Two of the three proposed Board members will be elected. 'X' / COMM GAMES AUS

Darryl Clout is the president of World Bowls and a former President of Bowls Australia, Grant Harrison is a former president of Gymnastics Australia and Chair of the Australian Commonwealth Games Foundation Investment Committee, and Duncan Free is a Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medallist and President of Oceania Rowing. The CGA will coincide with a Members' Forum and the Annual President's Dinner at the Sydney Olympic Park on 14 May.

In the 2023 Annual Report, CGA President Ben Houston, admits: "The highlight was undoubtedly the overwhelming success of the Australian team at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinbago, with the school age cohort topping the medal table with an impressive haul of 26 gold, 17 silver and 21 bronze medals. 62 individual athletes returned home with medals around their necks.".

Commonwealth Games Australia makes 2023 a success. 'X' / COMM GAMES AUS
Commonwealth Games Australia makes 2023 a success.  'X' / COMM GAMES AUS

"This was further disappointing due to the unapologetic tone of the then Premier and his team, in stark contrast to the sudden and unprecedented cancellation of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games by the Andrews-Allan Government." Meanwhile, CGA CEO Craig Phillips AM also describes the progress of the CGA's strategic plan, First Among Equals 2019-2026.

The CGA is the Commonwealth Games Association for Australia, responsible for representing and promoting the Commonwealth sporting movement in the country and organising the participation of athletes in the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.

In 2015, the organisation changed its name from the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to Commonwealth Games Australia. Australia has hosted the Commonwealth Games five times, most recently in 2018 on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Paris 2024 is on the horizon for Commonwealth Games Australia. 'X' / COMM GAMES AUS
Paris 2024 is on the horizon for Commonwealth Games Australia.  'X' / COMM GAMES AUS

There is currently no host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The Australian state of Victoria was originally announced as the host in April 2022. However, on 18 July 2023, the Victorian Government announced that it had cancelled its plans to host the Games. The reason given was that there was not enough money for the organisation. 

This was far in excess of the original budget. The City of Gold Coast offered to co-host the Games with Victoria, but later withdrew its offer for the same reason. There is a possibility that the Games could be postponed until 2027 or cancelled if a replacement is not found.