WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT THE 2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN REGIONAL VICTORIA:
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* About 6800 athletes and officials
* Opening ceremony at Melbourne Cricket Ground
* Closing ceremony TBA
* 16 sports, more to be added
* Regional centres to host all sports events:
Geelong:
* Sports: Aquatics (swimming, para swimming and diving), beach volleyball, T20 cricket, gymnastics, hockey, table tennis and para table tennis, triathlon and para triathlon
* Infrastructure: Athletes village
Bendigo:
* Sports: T20 cricket, cycling, lawn bowls and para lawn bowls, netball, squash, weightlifting and para powerlifting
* Infrastructure: Athletes village
Ballarat:
* Sports: Athletics and para athletics, boxing, T20 cricket
* Infrastructure: Athletes village, Mars Stadium upgrade
Gippsland:
* Sports: Badminton, T20 cricket, cycling, rugby sevens
* Infrastructure: Athletes village
Shepparton:
* Sports: TBA
ECONOMICS:
* $3 billion estimated boost to Victoria's economy
* 7500 new jobs (600 before, 3900 during and 3000 after)
* More affordable regional housing, exact figures unknown
* Sports infrastructure upgrades, including to Mars Stadium
* Taxpayers cost to be announced
HISTORY:
* 23rd Commonwealth Games
* First awarded to state or region in entire 92-year history
* Second in Victoria after 2006 Melbourne Games
* Sixth in Australia
Australian Associated Press