Australian athletes fear England could dominate the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast after their preparations received a massive injection of cash.

Sport England has awarded Commonwealth Games England £4 million ($5.1 million/€4.6 million) of National Lottery funding to boost their preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, it has been announced.

Birmingham’s decision to join Liverpool in planning to bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games has further energised preparations for the Commonwealth Games Federation’s (CGF) General Assembly in Edmonton, which CGF chief executive David Grevemberg describes as “unlike any before".

UNICEF are set to appoint a member of staff whose job will be to plan and deliver projects to integrate human and child rights “due diligence” into all aspects of future editions of the Commonwealth Games.

Double Olympic bronze medallist Cameron McEvoy of Australia has been named as the second official ambassador of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Team GB brand has been a real winner across the Olympic Games, not least in the incredible performance of its athletes, but also in its winning brand marketing and digital communications strategies.

Brisbane's division of communications firm MediaCom has become the official media agency of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, after they joined the event’s sponsorship programme.

British company Aggreko will be responsible for providing temporary power during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games after they signed on as an Official Supporter of the event.

Netball Australia have bolstered their coaching staff ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2019 Netball World Cup with the appointment of Roselee Jencke as assistant coach - defensive specialist.

A surfboard-shaped clock which will count down to the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast has been unveiled in Townsville.

Gold Coast 2018 chairman Peter Beattie has promised the Athletes' Village for the Commonwealth Games will not experience the same issues as the facility at Rio 2016 after Australian competitors initially refused to move in.

Adding beach volleyball to the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast will cost the Organising Committee around AUD$20 million (£11.5 million/$15 million/€13.5 million), chief executive Mark Peters has claimed.

Security plans for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games are the subject of “ongoing tweaking” following the devastating terrorist attack in Nice last week, the Mayor of the city Tom Tate has said.

A Gender Equality Taskforce has been established by Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Louise Martin to ensure equal opportunities for women across the region, it has been announced.

Olympic 100 metres hurdles champion Sally Pearson has been named as the first official ambassador of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.