Scotland's government is warning of financial and reputation risks of stepping in to save the 2026 Commonwealth Games in a fresh concern for the event.
Scotland had widely been expected to rubber-stamp an offer to host the 2026 Games after the Victorian government withdrew as host, citing contentious cost blowouts.
But Scotland's government says it's still weeks from a decision and is questioning if it can deliver the event on time.
The government says significant issues remain as negotiations drift on with the Commonwealth Games Federation about Glasgow hosting the Games, as the city did in 2014.
"It is precisely because we understand the potential benefits, as well as the importance to elite sport in Scotland, that we continue to consider this," Scotland's cabinet secretary Neil Gray told parliament on Tuesday UK time.
"However there are risks that we need to bottom out.
"It’s a new concept. It’s untested. The figures we are being quoted are ambitious, so we need to be mindful of that.
"This is not a replica of the 2014 Games.
"This is a smaller version with fewer sports over fewer sites so therefore there is a reputation risk as well as financial risk.
"Glasgow and Scotland have an international reputation for hosting major events incredibly successfully so we need to make sure this concept is right.
"Every passing day makes delivering the event more challenging and that is one of the questions around risk, whether this can be achieved in the time available."
Gray said a decision would be made "in the coming weeks".
In July last year, Victoria pulled out as host of the 2026 Games citing a forecast rise in costs - from between $2 billion and $3 billion to between $6 billion and $7 billion.
A subsequent audit found Victoria's decision was based on poor accounting while other Australian states and territories rejected hosting the 2026 edition.
The Victorian government agreed to pay $380 million in compensation to the Commonwealth Games Federation, which in turn offered almost $200 million of that money to potential host nations.
Malaysia and Singapore were among countries to turn down the offer and Scotland is the last chance of staging the Games in 2026.
Scotland's government has said no public money would be spent on the event and, if it agreed to host, the Games would be reduced to a maximum of 13 sports, down from the 19 sports at the 2022 edition in Birmingham, England.
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney and Commonwealth Games Australia have been approached by AAP for comment.
Victoria was the second successive Commonwealth Games host to renege on its commitment.
In 2015, Durban was named as 2022 host but 17 months later the South African city was stripped of the Games amid financial problems and missed deadlines.
Birmingham then stepped in to host in 2022.
