Victorian sports minister says collaboration with Tasmania on Commonwealth Games unlikely

The Victorian government has slammed the door on a potential Commonwealth Games partnership with Tasmania. 

The Tasmanian government had hoped the state could join forces with greater Victoria to stage the 2026 Commonwealth Games by hosting a variety of hand-picked events as part of a co-hosting partnership. 

But Victorian minister for sport and major events Martin Pakula told the ABC that Tasmanian involvement in hosting the games was highly unlikely. 

«I wouldn't have thought so,» Mr Pakula said.

«Tasmania so far has done no more than run a flag up the pole and say this is something we'd be interested to talk about.

»What we have is an agreement to hold the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, predominantly regional Victoria, and that's what we'll be focused on." 

Last week, the Victorian government announced it had entered exclusive negotiations with Commonwealth Games Australia about hosting the 2026 games. 

Mr Gutwein expressed his «disappointment» that he was not informed of the news before it was announced through the media. 

But Commonwealth Games Australia told the ABC it was unable to share details with the Tasmanian government due to a confidentiality agreement with Victoria. 

The greater Victoria bid was originally launched in 2017 with the intention of staging the games in 2030, but has been pushed forward and now looks set to win hosting rights for 2026. 

A Commonwealth Games Australia spokesperson said Tasmania's potential involvement in the games was now a matter for discussion between Tasmania and Victoria, but those hopes appear dashed.

As of Friday, the Tasmanian government's position had changed with hopes of staging large-scale events such as rowing, mountain biking or potentially cricket, pared back. 

«Obviously