Victoria 2026: What could Shepparton's involvement look like?

Now is not the time for a false start.

Expressions of interest for sporting bodies to be involved as additional sports in the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games have closed, and while the state government and the relevant committees and boards debate the specifics, Greater Shepparton and its surrounding regions wait with bated breath.

Every LGA in Victoria wants be as heavily involved as possible in what will be a legacy-creating event, but reality will soon bite for many of those regions.

The calls for involvement from many sectors of Shepparton’s sporting community — and beyond — have been loud and long-lasting since initial announcements in April of four hubs, in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland.

It has been well-publicised that Greater Shepparton minds were the nucleus for the concept of a regional Games, and that if the Coalition is successful in November’s state election it has promised to create a fifth hub right here in the Goulburn Valley.

But the announcements on the remaining sports to be included in the Victoria 2026 schedule — and where they will be staged — will almost certainly happen prior to November, and likely within the coming weeks.

It is pertinent to the discussion surrounding what Shepparton’s involvement will be in Victoria 2026 to separate the terms ‘event’ and ‘sport’.

Greater Shepparton could host endless events, whether they be cultural or community-driven, Games-wide or regionally specific.

But there are only so many sports to go around.

The list currently sits at 16 — among them sports that would seem perfect for our region given our track record and facilities, such as hockey, lawn bowls and para-lawn bowls.

The key though in assessing what Shepparton could be in line to host is seeing which sports are not there.

Shooting was left out of Birmingham 2022, but would likely head to Bendigo and Echuca if included for 2026.

Basketball — the 3x3 version — is yet to be attached to a host region, and the Coalition circled Shepparton as the perfect spot, if it is elected.

But the sport is yet to be confirmed as a starter for Victoria 2026 at all — and the 19 in total at Birmingham was the most sports involved at any Games.

More ‘boutique’ sports could be tapped on the shoulder — Shepparton has hosted plenty of Ultimate Frisbee Championships in my time here — but trying to predict which ones is far too much guess-work.

It all leads me to a simple conclusion — some sort of BMX-related event seems the most likely result for the region.

There’s two parts to this — one being that Greater Shepparton has already shown its capabilities to host international BMX events, and host them superbly.

The other is that AusCycling itself — the sport’s national governing body — has been on the front foot throughout the year about the inclusion of more cycling events beyond the road racing currently allocated to Gippsland and Bendigo.

“Cycling and riding have a long and distinguished history at the Commonwealth Games, with great Australian riders competing in road, track and mountain bike events since 1934,” AusCycling chief executive Marne Fechner said in July.

“We look forward to making the case to include a wide range of cycling events at Victoria 2026, including established and emerging disciplines in track, BMX, mountain bike and para-cycling in all its forms,” she said.

“Regional Victoria already attracts thousands of visitors a year to ride amazing roads, tracks and trails. The Commonwealth Games are an ideal opportunity to showcase Victorian riding destinations to a new domestic and international audience.”

No matter what pace Shepparton is required to set for its Victoria 2026 involvement, I have confidence that the region will deliver.

But it’s about time the race began.

Tyler Maher is the editor of The News.