Beatrice Faumuina celebrates her discus gold medal performance at the Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur, 1998. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Malaysia says it has been offered $200m to help the country host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Games is currently without a host after the Australian state of Victoria cancelled its plans last July because of soaring costs.
Malaysia's Olympic Council says it received a formal invitation from the Commonwealth Games Federation to replace Victoria as hosts last month.
A statement on the Olympic Council of Malaysia website said the $200m would support "the local delivery and legacy planning" of the 2026 Games.
Malaysia has hosted the Games once before, in the country's capital Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
President of Commonwealth Games Association of Malaysia Mohamad Norza Zakaria said the chance to host in 2026 was a "once in a lifetime opportunity to build on the success of 1998" and put the country "back on to the world sporting map".
The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event which takes place every four years. It has only ever been cancelled twice, in 1942 and 1946, because of World War Two.
To be eligible to participate, competitors must be from one of the Commonwealth's more than 70 nations or territories - many of which were once part of the British Empire.
The CGF had been struggling to find a host for the 2026 Games before Victoria volunteered in April 2022.
Organisers had originally estimated the event - hosted across cities including Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat - would cost $2.8bn.
But the expected cost for the 12-day tournament rose to more than $6 billion, prompting the state to cancel its plans.
The South African city of Durban was originally set to stage the 2022 games, but were stripped of hosting rights in 2017 after running into money troubles and missing key deadlines. Birmingham agreed to host nine months later.
The NZOC is pleased that Malaysia is considering hosting.
The NZOC says the Commonwealth Games are a significant sporting event for New Zealand. The Games provide our athletes with a valuable opportunity to test themselves against the best in the Commonwealth and represent New Zealand at a pinnacle multi-sport event. We know that New Zealanders also love to watch and engage with the Games.
A statement says they look forward to formal confirmation of a Games host.
This story first appeared on the BBC
