31 Mar 2010

Australia confirms bid to host 2018 Commonwealth Games

7:02 pm on 31 March 2010

Australia's confirmed it'll bid to host its fifth Commonwealth Games in 2018.

The Gold Coast, had already been confirmed as the host region should Australia be successful with the bid.

Gold Coast is so far competing only with the Nigerian capital Abuja for the right to host the Games.

Auckland ruled out of bidding earlier this month when the government said it wouldn't help underwrite the cost of running the event.

Australia has hosted the Games on four other occasions, in 1938 in Sydney, Perth in 1962, Brisbane 1982 and Melbourne 2006.

India's capital New Delhi will host the Games in October, while Scotland's largest city Glasgow will host them in 2014.

The successful bid will be decided in November next year.