Commonwealth Games: Olivia Breen 'shocked' by uncertainty
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Sprinter and long jumper Olivia Breen has won gold medals at Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the Paralympics
Welsh para-athlete Olivia Breen says she is "shocked" at the uncertainty surrounding future Commonwealth Games.
In July Australian state Victoria cancelled the 2026 Games it was due to stage and attempts to find a replacement host have so far failed.
"I just really hope it is going to to happen," said Breen.
Welsh Gymnastics chief executive Victoria Ward says the nation's sporting bodies have "every confidence" a host will emerge early next year.
Speaking in a Commonwealth Games discussion on BBC Radio Wales Sport, Ward said: "It's absolutely huge for gymnastics. It's the opportunity that we have for Wales to be seen as Wales on a world stage.
"I was starting to look at which other countries in the world where you are four countries for the Commonwealth Games and one country for the Olympics, and there isn't another one on the planet.
"So it makes it even more important for Wales and Welsh gymnastics to be part of the Commonwealth Games.
"For many sports they will have world championships; in rugby and football they will be Wales on the world stage, but that is not the case for many of the Commonwealth Games sports, so it is hugely beneficial for us to be able to represent Wales."
Ward added: "It's hugely disappointing abut what happened with Victoria, but we are really confident that the news we are expecting in early 2024 will be positive."
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is also dealing with the decision of Alberta in Canada to cancel its bid for the 2030 Games.
The CGF has said: "Since the sudden withdrawal of Victoria in July 2023 as host of the 2026 Games, the Commonwealth Games Federation has been working tirelessly with Commonwealth Games Associations to find a new host who would be able to step in at such short notice.
"We are in active conversations with a number of potential hosts across the Commonwealth and hope to provide an update on those discussions in early 2024."
'We all want to know our goal'
Breen, a multiple world and Commonwealth Games title-winner, remains baffled that no solution has yet been found.
"As athletes we all focus on ourselves and we all want to know what we are working towards as a goal, but we really hope a country will be able to host a Commonwealth Games because it is such an amazing event.
"It is para and ables together which only happens in the Commonwealth Games, so we really hope a country will be able to take it on and hopefully there will be one."
Breen, who is preparing for the 2024 Paris Paralympics, added: "Obviously it's expensive, but I am quite shocked that it's been a struggle.
"I thought the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was the best games I've ever been to and it keeps getting better and better."
Head of performance at Welsh Athletics Chris Type echoed Breen and Ward.
He said: "I'm confident we will get some news early in the new year that we can all get behind and continue to prepare our athletes for.
"I think from our sport, especially where para integration is such an important part of what we do, Olivia is a fantastic shining example of an athlete that can thrive from the para community within a fully integrated event alongside her peers and deliver fantastic performances.
"It is vital and it is important to us within Welsh Athletics that it continues."