New Zealand takes a stand for 2034

After Asia, the Olympic movement’s center of gravity could shift to Oceania over the next decade. The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) announced on Wednesday 19 April that it had done so express interest to host the Commonwealth Games in 2034. New Zealand has staged the multi-sport event three times before, in Auckland in 1950 and 1990, in Christchurch in 1974. According to NZOC Chief Executive Nicky Nicol, the project will be supported by the government. It will not be carried by one city, as tradition dictates, by the whole country, relying on local equipment. At this point, the process is still in its infancy. The New Zealanders are not hiding it, the discussions are just beginning and the steps promise to be many before a more formal confirmation of the candidacy. As a reminder, the next Commonwealth Games will be held in 2026 in the Australian state of Victoria. The 2030 edition is yet to be set.