General News
21 July, 2023
Games veto to 'hurt Horsham'
The president of Horsham Little Athletics said the state government’s decision to withdraw from the 2026 Commonwealth Games is a huge blow for Horsham. Peta Bond said the bombshell announcement on Tuesday would send shockwaves throughout the...
The president of Horsham Little Athletics said the state government’s decision to withdraw from the 2026 Commonwealth Games is a huge blow for Horsham.
Peta Bond said the bombshell announcement on Tuesday would send shockwaves throughout the region.
Even though the city was not to benefit in an official capacity, moves were already under way for local young athletes to springboard off the events.
Ms Bond said her organisation was planning numerous Commonwealth Games-related activities and projects.
“It’s a huge loss," she told The Horsham Times.
"I think we won't see the increase in numbers to athletics that we perhaps would have seen had the Commonwealth Games gone ahead.
“Our athletes potentially may have been involved in Athletics Victoria somehow, whether getting free tickets or volunteering."
Ms Bond said the decision to withdraw was disappointing for the Wimmera and the west.
“As for the western country region and the athletics, a lot of funding was going to upgrade Llanberris Athletics Reserve in Ballarat, which is the regional centre for little athletics.
“Being two hours from Ballarat I think a lot of Wimmera families and children were planning to do a day trip to events in Ballarat, Bendigo or Mildura.”
Dr Steve Georgakis, a senior lecturer in Sports Studies at University of Sydney, said the impact on athletes would be enormous.
“It also puts pressure on the non-mainstream sports such as lawn bowls, shooting, judo, archery, wrestling and others," he said.
"Many sports get funding based on doing well at the Commonwealth Games.”
Horsham mayor Robyn Gulline said she was hopeful the immediate region would still benefit from some of the funding pledged as part of the Games package.