GOLD COAST: Outgoing Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar says Kuala Lumpur is capable of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games but it will all depend on whether there is a political will to do so again.
KL hosted a successful Commonwealth Games in 1998.
"With the election around the corner, it will very much be on whether the incoming government would be keen to bid for it.
"We can assist them and put forward a very commendable bid.
"The good thing is that the Commonwealth Games Federation are now trying to get away from a straight bid process as it is an expensive affair.
"They prefer negotiations (with potential bidders) and at the same time, take into consideration the credentials of potential hosts.
"It is better this way as even the bidding process would cost us a lot of money.
"There is always a possibility but as I am stepping down soon as OCM head, it is now my successor's problem.”
Tunku Imran added: "From the angle of the sports fraternity, I think we definitely have the appetite to host it.
"Durban withdrew from hosting the 2022 edition following their failure to meet the financial deadlines.
"At the end of the day, it not whether we are capable of doing it... it is whether we have the will of hosting it again,” he added.