A decision on whether the Ontario Government will back a bid from Hamilton to host the Commonwealth Games is expected shortly, it was claimed by the head of the group lobbying for the Canadian city to host the event.

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) are continuing discussions with Australia, Canada and Sri Lanka over potential bids for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Sri Lanka has emerged as a potential bidder for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, at a time when attempts to stage the event in Hamilton have stalled.

The Hamilton 2026 Bid Committee is to "defer to the province" after the Ontario Government ruled out supporting a bid from Hamilton to host the Commonwealth Games before 2027, but began dialogue with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

Ontario’s Minister of Heritage and Sport Lisa MacLeod has announced that she will back a bid from Hamilton for the Commonwealth Games - but not until 2027.

Hopes that Adelaide would step in as potential hosts for the 2026 Commonwealth Games are officially over after Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) announced it had given up hope of persuading the South Australia Government to back a bid.

Redeemer University would support the construction of a multi-sport venue for Hamilton 2026 and would cover operating costs after the Commonwealth Games.

Vladimir Lisin, President of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), has warned that the absence of shooting from the 2026 Commonwealth Games programme of prospective hosts Hamilton, would "negatively affect" a significant number of nations, including Canada.

Any hope that Adelaide would step into the breach and offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games appear to have been ended before the campaign has even properly started after the South Australian Government ruled they would not change their minds about bidding.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) says no discussions have taken place over moving the 2026 edition of the Commonwealth Games to 2027.

The Hamilton Bid Committee is "hopeful and optimistic" that staging the Commonwealth Games in 2026 remains a possibility, despite the office of the Ontario Premier encouraging the organisation to instead pursue hosting the event at a later date.

Hamilton is continuing to struggle for official backing from key politicians to support its bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games in the run-up to a crucial meeting tomorrow.

Shooting events will not be included in the Commonwealth Games if Hamilton’s bid to stage the 2026 edition proves successful in its current form.

Organisers seeking to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Hamilton in Canada will tomorrow vouchsafe to the City Council that there will not be any post-Games financial obligations for the running of venues.