Auckland games bid decision this week

Rumours that the Government has decided not to back Auckland's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games will be confirmed or denied later this week, Prime Minister John Key said today.

Asked about the rumours, Mr Key said an announcement was expected this week from Sports Minister Murray McCully

"This Government put up some resources to allow that work to take place on the potential for a bid for Auckland. There was a brief discussion about that at Cabinet today and the minister is going to have some discussions with that group later on today as I understand it and it would be better for him to make any further comment," Mr Key said.

Last year the Government put up money to assess Auckland's ability to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The assessment was commissioned by the New Zealand Olympic Committee and funded by New Zealand Major Events, a unit of the Ministry of Economic Development, along with government sport funding agency Sparc and Auckland councils.

Sparc chief executive Peter Miskimmin said last year the assessment would give more information about the costs and benefits of holding the Games.

"Hosting a Commonwealth Games would provide substantial benefits for sport in New Zealand, and potentially major positive legacies in terms of infrastructure, volunteer base and participation."

If Auckland decided to bid for the Games, documents would be filed with the Commonwealth Games Federation in May 2011 before the host city was announced in November 2011.

- NZPA