“INNOVATIVE PROPOSALS” ARE WELCOME
Since the inaugural edition in 1930, the Games has only twice been held in Asia – Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and New Delhi in 2010 – with hosting duties largely split between the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
During this year’s Budget Speech, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced plans to bring more major sporting events to Singapore, with the country setting aside S$165 million (US$124 million) over the next four years to achieve that goal.
One such upcoming event is the World Aquatics Championships in 2025, making Singapore the first Southeast Asian country to do so.
Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong said Singapore’s athletes will not be the only ones to gain from the move to position the country as a choice destination for sports events, noting that it will also boost economic growth and global recognition.
Singapore has hosted large-scale multi-sports events before, including the 2015 SEA Games and the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics.
In 2022, the country lost out to Tokyo to hold the 2025 World Athletics Championships but a SportsSG spokesperson then said Singapore will continue to pursue sporting events that are aligned to its “strategic interests”.
A CGF spokesperson told CNA on Wednesday that the federation welcomes “innovative proposals and are in positive discussions with potential hosts”.
While no further details were provided on the other potential host cities of the 2026 Games, the spokesperson added that the federation aims to provide an update on the process and give “greater clarity to our stakeholders and athletes as soon as possible”.
