That’s the message from Petria Thomas, Australia’s Chef de Mission for Birmingham 2022, who revealed talks were underway to gain Government support for a bid to host the Commonwealth Games.

Australia is looking to stage the 2030 edition and could step in to organise the 2026 Games should Canada’s proposed bid fall through.

Interest from the Australian state of Victoria has also been welcomed by the Commonwealth Games Federation as it aims to secure a host to pick up the baton from Birmingham 2022.

Thomas, who won nine swimming gold medals at the Commonwealth Games during her glittering career, said the CGA was "working hard behind the scenes" to turn ambitions of staging another Games into reality.

"People at Commonwealth Games Australia are very keen to host another Games for many different reasons and speaking to various Governments around Australia to see if there is interest there for that to occur," said Thomas.

"There are certain processes that need to be gone through with the CGF as well so I think all of us who love sport would love to see the Commonwealth Games back in Australia at some stage in the not too distant future."

Australia has staged the Games on five previous occasions, with Sydney playing host in 1938, Perth in 1962, Brisbane in 1982, Melbourne in 2006 and Gold Coast in 2018.

Victoria had hoped to put a bid together to replace Durban as host of the 2022 Games after the South African city were stripped of the event following its failure to meet a series of financial deadlines.

But the Provincial and State Government refused to back the proposal with the Games eventually being awarded to Birmingham in England.

Adelaide also failed to gain State Government backing to bid for the 2026 edition while a "Greater Victoria" proposal to host the event in 2030 has been put on hold due to the coronavirus crisis.

Hamilton in Canada is also lacking support from its Provincial and Federation Government to play host in five years’ time, raising question marks over the future of the Games.

"I hope the event goes on for many years to come and I know Commonwealth Games Australia is very keen to host another Commonwealth Games at some stage in the future," said Thomas.

"We do such a great job at hosting Games in Australia and it provides such great legacy for the host communities with infrastructure, interest in sport and people getting up, getting active and participating.

"I think there is lots of benefits to hosting a Games and I would love to see the Games back in Australia at some stage."

Thomas is also excited by the prospect of another Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to Australia with Brisbane installed as the International Olympic Committee’s preferred candidate for the 2032 edition.

"There is no doubt that when a country hosts a Games, it helps to lift the performance of the home country," said the Olympic champion.

"I don’t think there would be anyone who would argue that.

"With the prospect of Brisbane hosting the 2032 Games and the very strong will to host another Commonwealth Games as well I think there is a really exciting future (for Australia)."