A regional Commonwealth Games bid earmarked for 2030 remains on hold due to the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Spearheaded by the City of Greater Shepparton, the bid proposed events to be held in regional Victorian centres such as Bendigo, Geelong, Ballarat, Warrnambool, Nagambie, Wodonga, Yarrawonga and Traralgon.
The bid's project manager Fiona Le Gassick said the proposal has been halted, with a completed pre-feasibility study completed, but not yet presented to regional councils.
The 2030 Greater Victoria Commonwealth Games bid was first announced in April 2017 and hoped to reinforce Victoria as Australia's premier sporting state.
Pitched as the "People's Games", it was proposed that Bendigo would host basketball, diving, track cycling and swimming events.
It is believed the proposal would require significant federal and state government funding.
Sports Focus business manager Stuart Craig said sporting events in regional cities provided an opportunity for those who participated in the sport to see it played at an elite level.
"Major sporting events hosted in Bendigo inspire those that are already in the sport, but also those on the outside, who are looking for activities to participate in," Mr Craig said.
"It gives them an opportunity to look at elite sport and see it played locally.
"We would hope people who are inactive are encouraged to take up a sport at a grassroots level after being introduced to it through a major event."
The hosts for the 2026 and 2030 Commonwealth Games are yet to be determined, with the next games scheduled for July and August 2022 in Birmingham, England.
The Canadian city of Hamilton had expressed interest in bidding for the 2030 games, but has since turned its attention to the 2026 event.
