The Andrews Labor Government has confirmed Stead Park in Geelong will be home to the world’s best hockey players when the Commonwealth Games comes to town in four years’ time.
The Geelong hub will also host aquatics, para swimming, beach volleyball, gymnastics, hockey, table tennis, para table tennis, triathlon and para triathlon.
Stead Park is the home of Hockey Geelong and currently features two synthetic pitches, one sand and one hybrid.
At Gold Coast 2018, 360 players from 11 nations competed in hockey. A sport with a rich history in Australia, the Kookaburras have won every men’s team gold medal at the Commonwealth Games since 1994 and the Hockeyroos are four-time women’s champions.
Victoria 2026 will be held between 17-29 March 2026, with a bumper 12 days of competition between the Commonwealth’s best athletes across regional Victoria allowing the regions to shine on the world stage.
As a regional hub alongside Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland, Geelong is expected to benefit significantly from the Games, including the creation of additional housing, world-class sports facilities and thousands of jobs.
An expressions of interest process for additional sports to be included in the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games has also now commenced.
The period for consideration will close on 19 August and international federations wanting to express an interest in participating in Victoria 2026 should contact [email protected].
As stated by Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery Jacinta Allan
“Geelong is a proud sporting city, and the Commonwealth Games will deliver great benefit to the entire community through improved infrastructure and exposure on the world stage.”
“Victoria 2026 will provide a boost to jobs, hospitality and the local economy and allows use to share our incredible regional communities with the rest of the world.”
As stated by Member for Lara John Eren
“We’re thrilled to host the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games and can’t wait to see the athletes in pursuit of hockey gold at our pitches here in four years’ time.”
As stated by Victoria 2026 Organising Committee CEO Jeroen Weimar
“We’ve announced competition dates and locked in venues for seven of the 16 sports on the current program – Victoria 2026 is getting ready to take the baton from Birmingham 2022 in just over a month.”
As stated by City of Greater Geelong Mayor Peter Murrihy
“The Geelong community is excited to welcome the world’s best hockey players for what is sure to be one of the highlight events of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”
