The Canadian province of Alberta has pulled its support to bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Tourism and Sports Minister Joseph Schow cited cost blowouts for pulling out its bid, according to a BBC report.
Schow said the bill was estimated at C$2.7bn (£1.5bn; $2bn) - a burden "too high for the province to bear". "We believe the recent decision by the Victorian government to withdraw from the 2026 Commonwealth Games was a significant factor in Alberta's decision, as well as an over-dependence on taxpayers' support for the planning and delivery of the Games," a statement from Commonwealth Sport Canada said, ABC News reported.
The Games were to be held in the cities of Edmonton and Calgary. Schow said that any proposal to host major events should consider the interests of local taxpayers.
Last month, organisers of the Games dealt with a major blow when Australia's Victoria state withdrew as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games citing a blowout in projected costs.
The Commonwealth Games are a multi-sport tournament and to take part in the Games, competitors must be from one of the 54 Commonwealth countries or 18 territories - many of which were previously colonised by Britain.
The 2030 Games, which marks 100 years of the games' origin, was initially supposed to be held in Hamilton, Ontario, which suspended its bid after the group behind the push failed to secure government commitments.
