Commonweath Games costs over-run

The budget for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne has blown out by nearly A$350 million ($386.31 million).

Premier Steve Bracks yesterday announced that the state government's contribution to the Games would now be A$697 million - almost double the initial estimate of A$350 million.

Bracks said the total cost of the Games was now budgeted at A$1.1 billion, with the balance coming from ticket sales, sponsorships and contributions from other levels of government.

This was slightly less than the overall cost of the Manchester Games last year, which were staged for A$1.2 billion.