Canada is out of the race for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as Halifax abandoned its bid Thursday, saying the $1.7-billion cost was too high.
“To say that I am disappointed, to say that I am astonished would be to bring understatement to a new level,” said Andrew Pipe, president of Commonwealth Games Canada.
The event, he said, was “eminently winnable.”
Municipal and provincial politicians said once inflation is factored in, the bid budget is close to $1.7 billion — almost $1 billion higher than originally stated — and the risks associated with pursuing the Games are too high.
“I am very sorry that we have not been able to move forward with this,” said Barry Barnet, Nova Scotia’s minister of health promotion.
“But you know I have to be responsible. We are $700 million short in terms of our ability to meet our obligations to host these Games.”
With Halifax out of the race, the competition for the 2014 event is among Glasgow, Scotland and Abuja, Nigeria. The winner will be announced in November.
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