Opportunities for businesses will be as golden as the medals being won at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria in 2026, The Hon Jacinta Allan MP said at an Ai Group webinar last week.
Ms Allan, Victorian Deputy Premier and the Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, said there would be significant and enduring benefits from having the event in regional Victoria.
“We don’t just want to see gold medals go to the athletes,” she added.
“We want to make sure there’s every opportunity for industry and businesses, jobs and workforces in Victoria to benefit from hosting this significant international sporting event, so we’re keen to have many conversations with industry and businesses across the state.”
Be prepared
It’s not just the physical infrastructure — competition venues and Games villages — that needs to be ready for the Games, the Minister said.
“Our workforces, volunteer support and regional communities, as well as our metropolitan communities who will be supporting the Games activities, also need to be prepared,” she said.
So, too, must businesses, webinar host Tim Piper, Ai Group’s Head of Victoria, said.
“Businesses need to understand what contracts they can apply for and where they might have success,” Mr Piper said.
“You might need to look at the capital expenditure you can create over the coming period and develop skills to execute any contract you might have.”
Facts and figures
During March 17-29, 2026, 7000 athletes and officials from 70 nations will come to Victoria for what will be the 23rd Commonwealth Games.
Under a novel multi-city model, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton will host 20 sports and nine fully integrated para-sports (including some sports making a Games debut).
This will bring:
- a $3billion boost to Victoria’s economy,
- hundreds of jobs created in the lead-up to the Games,
- 3900 jobs created during the event and
- 3000 jobs created after, owing to ongoing investment and the resulting legacy.
State-wide opportunities
“While regional Victoria will be home to the sports program, there is tremendous opportunity for the entire state,” the Minister said.
“We need to showcase the best of Victoria and get those broader economic benefits flowing across the state.
“When you think of the number of people who will be here, those benefits will be considerable.”
International reach
“There will be billions of eyeballs on regional Victoria during the broadcasting of the Games in addition to the tens of thousands of spectators expected to converge on the State for the period of the event,” Ms Allan said.
“It means we have a wonderful opportunity to partner with our food and wine industry, our creative industries and our regional communities to showcase both the natural beauty and the strengths of regional Victoria to international visitors — and viewers.
“The aim is to build that into a visitor program so people aren’t just coming for the Games, but they are coming to have a great time in regional Victoria and will hopefully return.
“If they’re watching the Games from overseas, they may become inspired to visit.
“Much work will be undertaken to get our hospitality and retail tourism sectors Games ready. We want them to be well positioned to reap the benefit of the many visitors that will come once the Games have finished.”
Leaving a legacy
Work is being undertaken on the draft master plans for each of the Games villages.
These will consider the longer-term legacy outcomes of the Games.
The four village sites — long regarded as potential urban renewal locations — have been confirmed as:
- Waurn Ponds, near the train station in Geelong;
- the former Ballarat saleyards site;
- a former university site in Bendigo and
- a Department of Human Services site in Morwell.
Geotechnical work on the sites has started, and expressions of interest for the construction sector to deliver the civil works needed to be laid down for the villages have been released.
“We’re thinking about what life beyond the Games will look like for these village locations, to enable them to become permanent housing sites,” Ms Allan said.
“The EOI for the civil and early works provide a great opportunity for regional businesses and contractors to get involved, along with statewide contractors.”
The type of housing for each village will be different, depending on capacity, design considerations, market demand and the response from the construction industry.
It is hoped the sites will be completed by the end of 2025.
Work is also happening at the three major competition venues: two new facilities in Geelong and the existing Eureka Stadium in Ballarat.
About $292million will be invested towards the Geelong facilities: an aquatic facility in Armstrong Creek and a multi-purpose facility in Waurn Ponds for gymnastics and weightlifting events.
Ballarat will host the athletics, including the marathon event, at Eureka Stadium.
To get the stadium ready for the Games, $150million will be invested to fund a new athletics track, extra permanent seats to accommodate 5000 people, athletics warm-up facilities and new sporting facilities to support the displacement of some community sport during the 2026 event.
Existing community competition venues will also benefit from improvements ranging from fit-outs to additional facilities, such as extra seating.
“We need to ensure that once the Games are run and won, there will be a lasting legacy in the host cities and beyond,” Ms Allan said.
“The workforce needed to ensure the Games run smoothly and the new skills people will acquire is another legacy piece because that training remains with those people forever.”
Procurement opportunities
About 800 different procurement decisions relating to the Games need to be made.
“This means there are 800 procurement opportunities for local businesses and industry to be involved in — everything from gold medals to golf balls need to be procured alongside the major infrastructure that will need to go through procurement and construction,” the Minister said.
“Make sure you are registered on our Buying for Victoria website to ensure you are plugged into the opportunities available.
“Many of the local chambers of commerce are a point of contact for local businesses, along with Ai Group and the Industry Capability Network (ICN).
“If a local business thinks they’ve got the potential to be a supplier, it’s imperative we know about them.”
Procurement opportunities will align with Victoria’s Local Jobs First policy to support local businesses and skilled workers.
Further support for small business
During the webinar, the Minister offered to attend a follow-up Ai Group online meeting to help SMEs understand and explore procurement opportunities, a move supported by Mr Piper.
“Smaller companies, especially in regional areas, may have limited experience with tenders,” he said.
“Helping them at this early stage would be helpful.
“There is a lot of work to do, but there’s a lot of opportunity, as well.
“That’s why businesses are encouraged to become engaged at this early stage.
“Planning is essential.”
Ai Group, which has teamed up with the Industry Capability Network, is working closely with the Commonwealth Games office to help our members become aware of available Games-related opportunities and to make their tender offers as strong as possible.
Visit Games 2026 Connect, a dedicated page on our website that provides the latest Commonwealth Games opportunities for members.