The Scottish government supported an agreement that will see Glasgow host the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
Twelve years after the city last held the Games, a trimmed-down version of the event with fewer events and competitors will return to the area.
The multisport event was initially scheduled to take place in the Australian state of Victoria, however owing to growing expenses, the state withdrew as host.
To assist with completing the transaction, Australian officials have pledged “a multi-million-pound investment.”
Health and Sport Minister Neil Gray has written to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to officially back a scaled-back, but high-quality event in Glasgow for 2026. The event will see 10 sports take place across four venues in the city, with compulsory sports of Athletics and Swimming being held at Scotstoun Stadium and Tollcross International Swimming Centre. The Scottish Secretary Ian Murray expressed confidence in Glasgow’s ability to host the games as a testament to Scotland’s reputation for hosting international events.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has committed £2.3m to enhance the event, and the UK government will provide financial support in case of increased security threats. The total budget for the Games is expected to be about £114m. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Glasgow is in need of economic investment and renewal, and that by hosting the games, Glasgow and Scotland can showcase Glasgow and Scotland on the international stage and bring investment and tourism.
What to Expect
The 2026 version of the Games will be a more modest affair, with no athlete’s village and opening and closing ceremonies expected to be scaled back. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has struggled to find hosts for the event in recent years, with Durban being stripped of hosting rights in 2017 after running into money troubles. Birmingham and the British government intervened to save the event, which was expected to cost more than A$6bn.
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken believes Glasgow could help make the new Commonwealth Games model a success, addressing concerns about the condition of Glasgow’s city centre. The CGF will include some investment into Glasgow’s sporting facilities and the council will negotiate for an extra boost to support cleansing services for the city.
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