Glasgow confirmed as hosts as 2026 Commonwealth Games are saved with Aussie help
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are officially happening, with Australia all but funding the event to take place in a foreign country on the other side of the world.
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It’s official, the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be staged in Glasgow.
More than a year after Victorian premier Dan Andrews bailed out on hosting the Games in regional Victoria, putting the competition in serious danger of becoming extinct, the Scottish government has given final approval for Glasgow to save the Games.
And it’s the Australian Commonwealth Games Federation that has stepped up to save the day pledging an additional $4.5m to get the Glasgow proposal across the line.
That figure is on top of the $380m payout fee the Victorian government paid to abandon their Games – meaning Australia has all but funded the Games to take place in a foreign country on the other side of the world.
The decision will come as a welcome relief for the thousands of athletes across the Commonwealth countries who compete in the event as a mid-cycle check point on the way to an Olympic Games.
Glasgow will produce a scaled-down version of the Games, with only 10 sports in competition and plans to use existing infrastructure within the city some of which remains from when they last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
“We have been working with Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) and the Scottish Government for several months and are delighted to hear CGS has received confirmation of support from the Government to enable them to progress with their proposal to host the Games in 2026,” Commonwealth Games Federation president Chris Jenkins said.
“At the heart of our discussions has been an investment of £100 million from the CGF and the commitment that Glasgow 2026 would not require financial underwriting from either the Scottish or UK Governments. The additional generous contribution of around £2.3 million from Commonwealth Games Australia to the Glasgow concept will further enhance the Games delivery and is a strong sign of the support and excitement for the concept within the wider Commonwealth Games Movement.
“We believe Glasgow 2026 will be an important first step in our commitment to reset and reframe the Commonwealth Games as a co-created, sustainable model that minimises costs, inspires athletes, and excites Hosts and International Federations.
“We will work closely with CGS to positively conclude final stakeholder discussions with the aim of formally announcing Glasgow as the host city for 2026 as soon as possible.”
The big question for anxious for athletes now is – will their sports survive the cull to be part of Glasgow 2026.
Swimming and athletics are the only two sports guaranteed to be on the start line, although a recent Code Sports investigation found some sports should be feeling much safer than others.
Commonwealth Games Australia president Ben Houston applauded Scotland for rescuing the Games.
“This is a fantastic outcome for the Commonwealth sport movement,” Houston said.
“We commend and applaud Commonwealth Games Scotland for their reimagination of the Games in a sustainable and cost-effective way, as well as the Scottish and UK Government for their support of the concept.”
“The Commonwealth Games are at the heart of Australia’s performance pathway, often providing the launch pad for continued and ongoing success by Australian athletes,” Houston said.
“They are irreplaceable in terms of providing global competition and, in the absence of an Australian host, it was in the interests of Australian sport that we make an overseas Games a reality.”
Houston acknowledged the scaled down program will impact several CGA member sports.
“We know that a reduced sport programme will have an impact on some member sports and their athletes, and our commitment to them is that they will remain a valued member of the Commonwealth family,” Houston added.
Hockey Australia boss David Pryles was pleased to hear news of the Games reprieve and was hopeful hockey would be among the 10 sports on the schedule.
The Kookaburras have won all seven gold medals since the sport was added in 1998, while the Hockeyroos have claimed five titles, although did suffer a shock loss to England in the Birmingham final two years ago.
Pryles said HA was yet to have any discussions with the Commonwealth Games Federation or world hockey’s peak body FIH about whether hockey would be a go in Glasgow.
“We would love for the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras to represent Australia in Glasgow - we have such a proud history in Commonwealth Games sport,” Pryles said.
“It is an important event for our players in the Olympic cycle as it gives them important tournament experience leading into the LA Olympics.”
Originally published as Glasgow confirmed as hosts as 2026 Commonwealth Games are saved with Aussie help
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