Commonwealth Games announces the new CEO and said the event is looking forward to the $200m investment
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games organising committee has announced its new boss and he is thrilled at the multimillion investment by Victorian taxpayers.
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The newly-appointed head of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games said the event will reap the rewards by bringing in more than £100m ($198.9m) in investment into the city - largely handed over by Victorian taxpayers.
On Wednesday local time the Glasgow 2026 organising committee announced Phil Batty as the new chief executive officer who will lead the team delivering the games to the Scottish city in 18 months.
“Delivering the Games is a team effort, which will bring over £100m of inward investment
into the city, and I am looking forward to working with such a hugely talented workforce,
experienced network of suppliers, partners, and local communities to bring the vision for
Glasgow 2026 to life,” Mr Batty said.
“Delivering at pace and without public funding, means that we, as an organising company, and our partners, need to think differently and innovatively”.
Glasgow rescued the Commonwealth Games after Victoria announced in 2023 it was pulling out of the event due to soaring costs and the event will be held from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said in 2023 the Games’ budget had blown out by about $6 to $7bn, and the Victorian Auditor-General last year said the cost to pull the event would cost about $589m.
The Games were last held in Glasgow in 2014 and at the 2026 Games there will be 10 sports including athletics, swimming, gymnastics, track cycling, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and basketball held at four venues.
Sports axed from the Games for 2026 including cricket, hockey, badminton, wrestling and rugby sevens.
Mr Batty previously held roles including the director of ceremonies, culture and Queen’s baton relay for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
He said preparations for the event are underway and the committee is “determined to create an accessible and inclusive Games for both local communities and international visitors alike”.
In an interview with the BBC on Wednesday Mr Batty said he was confident Glasgow could put on a stellar event and secure the future of the Commonwealth Games.
“I think people will be looking at Glasgow 2026 and seeing what happens here, and Scotland’s contribution to the future of the movement as a really defining moment in the history of the Commonwealth Games,” he told the BBC.
“I feel Glasgow’s done a really important job in re-setting the Games for future host cities in 2030, 2034 and 2038”.
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Originally published as Commonwealth Games announces the new CEO and said the event is looking forward to the $200m investment
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