2026 Commonwealth Games

Last updated

XXIII Commonwealth Games
New Commonwealth Games logo 2019.svg
Host Glasgow, Scotland
Nations74 Commonwealth Games Associations (expected)
Main venue Scotstoun Stadium
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The 2026 Commonwealth Games (Scottish Gaelic : Geamannan a' Cho-fhlaitheis 2026), officially known as the XXIII Commonwealth Games and Glasgow 2026 (Scottish Gaelic : Glaschu 2026; Scots : Glesga 2026), is a planned multi-sport event scheduled to be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland, [1] [2] [3] [4] for members of the Commonwealth of Nations. This will be the fourth Commonwealth Games to be hosted in Scotland, following the 1970 and 1986 games in Edinburgh, and the 2014 games in Glasgow.

Contents

For some time, the Games were without a host after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew, having initially been announced as the host in April 2022. [5] On 18 July 2023, the Victorian state government cancelled its plans due to escalating cost projections. The city of Gold Coast, Queensland, briefly offered to co-host the event but later withdrew for similar reasons. With no host, there was a risk that the Games might be postponed to 2027 or cancelled entirely. [6] [7] [8]

On 11 August 2024, reports surfaced that Glasgow had reached an agreement to take over the hosting rights, [9] but the next day it was clarified that talks were ongoing with no final agreement or imminent announcement. Commonwealth Games Scotland proposed a scaled-back version of the event, featuring 10 to 13 sports and using existing infrastructure, with £100 million in funding from the Commonwealth Games Federation and an additional £30 to 50 million from commercial sources, ensuring no significant public funds would be required. [10] A further update on 30 August 2024 confirmed that the Games would be primarily funded by AU$200 million, secured as compensation from the Victorian government following their withdrawal. [11] [12] On 17 September 2024, it was announced that the Scottish government had agreed to host the games with financial backing from Commonwealth Games Australia. [4] The scaled-down and low-cost Games will feature 10 sports taking place over four venues and no athletes' village. [4]

Host selection

First selection

During the CGF General Assembly on 31 March 2017 in Gold Coast, after the troubled 2022 Commonwealth Games host city bid process, the executive board announced that it had planned to award both 2026 and 2030 Commonwealth Games simultaneously at the CGF General Assembly scheduled for Kigali, Rwanda in September 2019. A new model called CGF Partnerships (CGFP) was implemented which aimed to give stronger support to the associations and cities that show interests in hosting future Games, and enhance the overall value of the event. This is similar to the process used by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2017. [13] [14]

In 2015, the South African city of Durban originally won the rights to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but was stripped of this right in 2017 due to financial concerns. [15] [16] As a result, Birmingham moved up its planned Games from 2026 to 2022. [17] This left the 2026 Games without a host and bids from Kuala Lumpur, Cardiff, Calgary, Edmonton and Adelaide were all withdrawn due to concerns over costs, with a hosting decision not made by the Commonwealth Games Federation between 2019 and 2022. [17]

In January 2022, the Victorian State Government announced it was giving serious consideration to a late request from the CGF to host the Games. On 16 February 2022, Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews confirmed that the state was in exclusive negotiations with the CGF to host the Games. [18] It was stated that if successful in hosting the Games a second time, a Victorian bid would aim to emphasise the state's regional centres—such as Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo—as opposed to being predominantly Melbourne-based, such as in 2006. Bendigo had previously hosted the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games. Acceptance of the bid would likely also be conditional upon agreement on ways to control costs, such as housing athletes and officials in hotels rather than a dedicated village. [19] [20] This bid was confirmed as successful on 12 April 2022. [21]

On 18 July 2023, Andrews and Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan announced the state government intended to cancel the 2026 Victorian Games. [6] [8] Fifteen months after agreeing to host the Games, the Premier said the cost had escalated to an estimated A$6–7  billion, double the estimated economic benefits for the state, and the government could not justify the expense. [22] The state said it would terminate its host agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation and seek a settlement of the contract. [7] The withdrawal prompted a new search for a host for the 2026 Games. [23]

2026 Commonwealth Games bidding results
City / regionNationVotes
Victoria Flag of Australia (converted).svg AustraliaUnanimous (2022)
Withdrew (2023)

Second selection

Glasgow was considered as the "last possibility" to host the 2026 games after Victoria pulled out. Dawn over Glasgow (48659596342).jpg
Glasgow was considered as the "last possibility" to host the 2026 games after Victoria pulled out.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan subsequently said he was "ready" to support the London bid to replace Victoria as the host. [24] Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf also stated that he was "willing to consider proposals" for Scotland to host at least some of the events at the Games. [25]

On 4 December 2023, the Gold Coast ruled itself out of hosting the games. [26] On the same day, the British government confirmed that there would be "no UK rescue" for the games and that they would not be hosted in the United Kingdom, citing that there is no financial appetite or any preliminary planning in place to allow another British city to intervene again after Birmingham 2022. [27]

On 11 March 2024, the Olympic Council of Malaysia revealed that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) had offered Malaysia approximately £100 million to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games on a smaller scale than initially planned, with discussions ongoing. [28] However, on 22 March 2024, the Malaysian Cabinet declined the offer, stating that the £100 million would be insufficient to cover the event's costs. Furthermore, the Federal Government was unwilling to use taxpayers' money to fund the games, especially given the risk of a scheduling clash with the 2027 SEA Games, also set to be held in Malaysia. [29]

On 14 March 2024, the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), Sport Singapore (SportSG), and Commonwealth Games Singapore (CGS) announced they were exploring the feasibility of hosting the games, including the possibility of a joint bid with Malaysia to reduce expenses. However, on 3 April 2024, CGS and SportSG confirmed that Singapore would not submit a bid. [30]

On 8 April 2024, the CGF indicated that a new host for the 2026 Games might be announced the following month, and on 9 April 2024, Ghana's Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, expressed interest in hosting the event following Accra’s successful hosting of the 2023 African Games in March. [31] [32]

On 11 April 2024, it was announced that Glasgow was being considered as a "last possibility" to host the 2026 Games in the event, if no other host was forthcoming, in an alternative to safeguard the Games. [33] It was reported that the Games would be in a smaller scale and could reuse venues from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Accommodation for the athletes would comprise hotels, and possibly a combination of Glasgow Caledonian University and University of Glasgow residences. [33] Furthermore, the costs of the Games would be covered fully by the Commonwealth Games Federation and other corporate sponsors. [33] Discussions were ongoing between Commonwealth Games Scotland, the Scottish Government, and EventScotland with a confirmed bid expected by the end of the month. [34] However, a bid would not end up being submitted at that time. On 25 July 2024, BBC reported that a decision would be made in August. [35]

On 11 August 2024, it was speculated that an agreement was reached for Glasgow to take over the hosting rights of the games. [9] A statement from the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland issued on 30 August 2024, suggested a compact games concept with 10 sports across four venues including the Scotstoun Stadium and the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. [12]

On 17 September 2024, it was announced that the Scottish Government had agreed to host the games with financial backing from Commonwealth Games Australia. [4]

2026 Commonwealth Games bidding results
City / regionNationVotes
Glasgow Flag of Scotland.svg ScotlandUnanimous

Development and preparations

Venues

The following venues are expected to be used for the games: [36]

Opening and closing ceremonies

As part of the proposed plan put forward by Commonwealth Games Scotland, the opening and closing ceremonies are expected to be a down scaled compared to previous Games. [37] It is unknown as of yet whether the ceremonies will take place in a Stadium or another venue in Glasgow.

Participating associations

74 Commonwealth Games Associations are expected to send athletes to the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Participating Commonwealth Games Associations

Sports

Glasgow 2026 list of disciplines

Ten sports are expected to feature at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, including the two compulsory sports:

Broadcasting

See also

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References

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  17. 1 2 Yerushalmy, Jonathan (18 July 2023). "Commonwealth Games 2026: why has Victoria pulled out and what happens now?". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
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  38. ↑ "Sky TV Wins Broadcast Rights For 2022 And 2026 Commonwealth Games". Ministry of Sport. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
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