Gold Coast Games gets $156m in budget

Infrastructure for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will receive funding of $156 million in the federal budget.

Expected to be one of the world's major sporting events in 2018, the Gold Coast Games will build on the legacy of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

In partnership with the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast City Council, the federal funds will be targeted at infrastructure like the Carrara indoor stadium and precinct, and a major velodrome in Brisbane.

Minister for Sport and Health Peter Dutton said the stadium and the velodrome would be used in future national and international sporting events.

The funding would create a large number of jobs during construction and help ensure Australia staged a world class event.

Australian athletes will be heading to Scotland in the coming months for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games from July 23-Aug 3.