Citing financial concerns, Malaysia rejects invitation to host Commonwealth Games in 2026.

Malaysia has declined an invitation to host the next Commonwealth Games, citing financial worries over the quadrennial athletic event.

The government came to the conclusion that the 100 million pounds ($126.21 million) in support money offered by the Commonwealth Games Federation would not be sufficient to pay the total cost, according to Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh who made the announcement on Friday.

Yeoh said that the government wants to focus on the welfare and well-being of the people as well as the development of sports.

After the Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year, alleging the anticipated cost had blown out by 6.9 billion Australian dollars ($4.5 billion), Malaysia was invited to host the event.

The Commonwealth Games include competitors from over 70 countries and territories, the majority of whom were once part of the British Empire.

The 2022 tournament was hosted in Birmingham, UK, after South Africa’s Durban was deprived of hosting rights for failing to satisfy standards established by the event’s governing body.

Malaysia, the first Asian nation to hold an Asian Games, became the host nation of the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur after gaining independence from the British in 1957.