Malaysia has announced that it has been offered £100 million to help host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The event is currently without a host after the Australian state of Victoria canceled the event last July due to rising costs.
Malaysia's Olympic Council announced last month that it had received a formal invitation from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to replace the state of Victoria as host country.
CGF said it was in “high-level discussions” with potential hosts.
A statement posted on the Olympic Council of Malaysia's (OCM) website said the £100 million would support “local delivery and legacy planning” for the 2026 Games.
Malaysia has previously hosted the Olympics once in 1998 in its capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian Commonwealth Games Association president Mohamad Norza Zakaria said the chance to host the event in 2026 was “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build on the success of 1998” and put the country “back on the global sporting map”. said.
A CGF spokesperson told BBC Sport that £100m of “financial and strategic support” was available for potential hosts as part of Victoria's withdrawal settlement.
The statement said: “The CGF is working with potential host countries on advanced and advanced initiatives to secure solutions for the 2026 Games that will inspire athletes and help transform the Games into a truly sustainable model. Confidential discussions are underway.
“Malaysia has an excellent track record in delivering sporting events, with the 1998 Commonwealth Games held in Kuala Lumpur being a huge success. I was encouraged by their initial concept of building on this legacy.
“We welcome innovative proposals and are in positive discussions with potential hosts. We will provide updates on the expedited process and provide clarity to stakeholders and athletes as soon as possible. I will do my best.”
The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sporting event held every four years. Only two of his, his 1942 and his 1946, have ever been canceled due to World War II.
To be eligible, entrants must be from one of the 70 or more Commonwealth countries or territories. Many of them were once part of the British Empire.