Ontario will not take part in bid process for 2030 Commonwealth Games

After months of deliberation, the Ontario government has decided not to take part in the bidding process to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

A statement from the Ontario Ministry of Sport dated June 10, said that following a cost-benefit analysis, the government will not proceed with the bid process to host the games.

A group in Hamilton – called Hamilton 100 – had launched a campaign in March to bring the 100th Commonwealth Games back to Hamilton, 100 years since the city first hosted the games.

They proposed that Hamilton join other cities in the country in hosting the games as a method to keep costs low and to function with a “pared down” budget.

The ministry said it had submitted an expression of interest to Commonwealth Sport Canada in March, “to better understand the potential bid structure, financial commitments required and the possible benefits of hosting the event.”

The province expressed interest back in April to take part in the Dialog and Feasibility Phase for the Games bidding process.

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“Ontario would like to wish Commonwealth Sport Canada the best of luck moving forward with the United Canada 2030 Commonwealth Games bid and the effort to bring the Commonwealth Games back to Canada,” said Tyler Currie, the Assistant Deputy Minister at the ministry.

Louis Frapporti, a lawyer at Gowling WLG and advocate for Hamilton to host the games, had expressed his disappointment in the decision in a post on LinkedIn Thursday.

He said as part of Gowling WLG’s work to revitalize downtown Hamilton through The Commons initiative and the Hamilton Arena Project, they will explore plans to commemorate the celebration of the Games in Hamilton.

Frapporti also wished members of Commonwealth Sport Canada luck in working to bring the Games to the country.

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