Murray McCully

Wellington, March 16 NZPA - The Government is expected to decide this week whether it will back Auckland's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

An announcement is likely after Sports Minister Murray McCully meets officials and promoters today or tomorrow.

Prime Minister John Key was asked yesterday about rumours that the decision had already been made and the Government's wasn't going to back the bid.

He said there had been a brief discussion at yesterday's cabinet meeting and Mr McCully was going to be involved in further discussions.

"It would be better for him to make any further comment," Mr Key said.

The Government last year provided money to assess Auckland's ability to host the Commonwealth Games.

The assessment was commissioned by the New Zealand Olympic Committee and was 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," he said.

If Auckland goes ahead with a bid it has to file documents with the Commonwealth Games Federation by May 2011. The host city will be announced in November 2011.