Brisbane, Australia CNN —The Australian state of Victoria has canceled plans to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the predicted cost of the international sporting event blew out three times original estimates, state authorities said Tuesday. That is all cost and no benefit.”The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event involving thousands of athletes representing 72 Commonwealth countries and territories, held every four years. In a statement Tuesday, the Commonwealth Games Federation said the decision was “hugely disappointing for the Commonwealth Sport Movement,” and suggested that Victorian authorities hadn’t previously raised cost concerns. John Sibley/Reuters/FILEThe Federation said decisions the state had made concerning sports and venues had “added considerable expense, often against the advice of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA).”The Federation said it was “taking advice on the options available” and remained committed to finding a solution so the Games could go ahead. Instead of hosting the Games, Victoria will build at least 1,300 affordable homes and the permanent sporting facilities it had promised in an effort to boost regional tourism and events, Andrews said.

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Persons: Premier Daniel Andrews, “ I’ve, ”, Victoria, hadn’t, Vanessa Amorosi, John Sibley, “, Andrews Organizations: Australia CNN, Premier, Commonwealth, Games, Commonwealth Games Federation, Commonwealth Sport Movement, Government, Commonwealth Games Australia, Geelong Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Victoria, Melbourne, Birmingham, England, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland, Shepparton