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Regional Victoria will become the centre of the international sports universe after the state won a one-horse race to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The multi-sport event will be held across the state in four years' time, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Tuesday.

It is the first Commonwealth Games to be awarded to a state or region, with only cities previously selected throughout its 92-year history.

Four hubs will be set up in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland - each with their own athletes' villages - and Shepparton is also slated to host events.

The regional centres will host the entire program apart from the opening ceremony, which has been locked in for the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Mr Andrews said the event would be like no other and showcase what the state has to offer.

"We're not just doing a re-run. It's not going to be the same as it's ever been," Mr Andrews told reporters at Mars Stadium in Ballarat, which will be upgraded.

The Games are estimated to inject $3 billion into the state economy, create 7500 jobs pre- and post-event, and boost sports and affordable housing infrastructure.

Mr Andrews said the cost of hosting the 2026 sports extravaganza will be revealed in the upcoming state budget, due to be released on May 3.

"It'll cost a substantial amount ... but I don't see it as a cost," he said.

No funding has been set aside by the federal government, in caretaker mode ahead of the May 21 election, but Mr Andrews would welcome any contribution.

Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin said an initial list of 16 sports has been selected, including T20 cricket and rugby sevens.

Further sports will be added later in the year.

Hosting rights for the 2026 event hit the market after the English midlands city of Birmingham replaced South Africa's Durban as host of the 2022 Games, to be held from July 28 to August 8.

With no other bidders, it was a considered a fait accompli Victoria would secure the event after the state government entered exclusive negotiations with the Games' governing body in February.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said the formal announcement was the crowning glory of record-breaking events season in Melbourne.

"We have well and truly left the mantle of 'the world's most locked down city' behind us," she said.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the Victorian Liberals and Nationals supported the concept of a regional-focused Commonwealth Games in principle.

"We don't support just a blank cheque to do anything at anytime but what we do support is a sensible plan," he said.

The Games last came to Victoria in 2006, when Melbourne played host. It is the sixth time the event has been held in Australia, most recently on the Gold Coast in 2018.

WHERE 2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES EVENTS WILL BE HELD:

Aquatics (Swimming, Para Swimming and Diving) - Geelong

Athletics and Para Athletics - Ballarat

Badminton - Gippsland

Beach Volleyball - Geelong

Boxing - Ballarat

Cricket T20 - Geelong, Gippsland, Ballarat, Bendigo

Cycling - Gippsland to Bendigo

Gymnastics - Geelong

Hockey - Geelong

Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls - Bendigo

Netball - Bendigo

Rugby Sevens - Gippsland

Squash - Bendigo

Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis - Geelong

Triathlon and Para Triathlon - Geelong

Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting - Bendigo

© AAP 2022

Photo: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media during a press conference at Mars Stadium in Ballarat, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Victoria has officially been announced as the host for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. (AAP Image/Con Chronis)

A teenage boy is dead and another seriously injured after both were stabbed at Sydney's Royal Easter Show.

A brawl broke out at the crowded carnival ride area of the showground about 8pm on Monday night, NSW Police said.

The 17-year-old suffered a critical stab wound to the chest and died while being taken to Westmead Hospital.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Mark Whittaker said the teen was in cardiac arrest with a traumatic chest wound when paramedics arrived.

"Paramedics performed CPR and a number of other critical interventions at the scene before loading the patient for transport to Westmead Hospital," he said in a statement.

"Unfortunately despite best efforts, he couldn't be resuscitated.

"There's no doubt this would have been a very confronting scene for the dozens of witnesses who were out to enjoy an evening at the Royal Easter Show."

A second teen, 16, was stabbed in the leg and was taken to Westmead Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station.

Show visitors were moved out of the area which was packed with people and is now closed, while a crime scene has been established.

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW said it was shocked and saddened by the teenager's death and the "adult carnival" rides area would remain closed throughout Tuesday.

"The RAS does not tolerate or condone any violence or anti-social behaviour and joins with NSW Police and the wider community in condemning this appalling behaviour and unnecessary loss of life."

Meanwhile, SafeWork NSW is investigating if the Free Fall ride should be closed for the remainder of the show after a four-year-old child was left unrestrained while the ride was in operation.

A photograph on social media showed the boy sitting on the ride without a harness when it was in mid-air, while three other children on the ride were restrained.

Fair Trading Minister Eleni Petinos said she had a zero-tolerance approach towards any operator who failed to provide the highest possible safety standards.

"I can confirm that I have instructed SafeWork NSW to explore shutting the Free Fall ride for the remainder of the 2022 Sydney Royal Easter Show if patrons' safety cannot be guaranteed," Ms Petinos said.

"The ride has been closed pending investigation."

SafeWork NSW Inspectors will continue to be a presence for the remainder of the show.

© AAP 2022

Image Credit: (Sydney Royal Easter Show / Facebook)

A protester who ran on to the field with a flare during an NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers in Sydney has been jailed for three months.

It was one of multiple pitch invasions during round five of the NRL season, with other spectators also running on to Cronulla's Shark Park on Sunday.

Unlike the woman crash tackled by security after running through an NRL game at Parramatta on Saturday night would later claim, Andrew George was not crossing something off his "bucket list".

The 32-year-old was "embracing the larrikin spirit ... defying authority when authority needs to be defied", he said in a statement recorded before he lit an orange flare as he ran on the field.

He pleaded guilty to two charges in Sutherland Local Court on Monday.

George was fined $440 for entering enclosed land without lawful excuse and sentenced to three months in prison for possessing a bright light distress signal in a public place.

It was the latest action from the protest group Fireproof Australia.

The group is demanding the immediate rehousing of flood and bushfire survivors, the implementation of recommendations from the royal commission into the Black Summer bushfires, and for schools, aged care and disability facilities to be made "smoke-proof".

The pitch invasion was a change in tactics for the group, which has previously blocked traffic on roads and bridges to draw attention to their cause.

NSW recently passed new laws that could see those protests result in fines up to $22,000 and up to two years in prison.

Shortly after, Fireproof Australia were back blocking roads, vowing to defy the new laws while Premier Dominic Perrottet called for courts to "throw the book" at them.

On Friday, Fireproof Australia claimed a victory, even while more protesters were being arrested, saying Mr Perrottet "agrees with our demands" to rehome people who have lost their houses in floods.

Mr Perrottet and other senior members of his government have repeatedly said housing is the priority for the NSW flood recovery since early March.

© AAP 2022

Image: Lautaro Andreani lautaroandreaniph, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (image for illustration only)