Glasgow, Scotland steps up to try to save the 2026 Comm Games after Victoria’s abandonment
Just as Australia’s Paris Olympic campaign came to an end, renewed hope that the 2026 Commonwealth Games abandoned by Daniel Andrews and the Victorian Government may be saved.
Comm Games
Don't miss out on the headlines from Comm Games. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Scotland is on the verge of rescuing the 2026 Commonwealth Games abandoned by Victoria, with Glasgow in deep discussions to be announced as the saviour of what would be a significantly reduced competition.
Just over a year after former Victorian premier Dan Andrews unexpectedly pulled the pin on hosting the 2026 Games in regional Victoria, rumours have emerged at the 2024 Paris Olympics that an event host could be announced in the coming days.
The Gold Coast and Perth had previously put their hand up to take the Games, but without state government support they simply could not take on an event of this magnitude.
Enter Glasgow. The city hosted the 2014 Games with great success, but with such a short runway to pull off a mass participation event their plans would be for an abbreviated version of the Games.
Just 10 sports across an 11-day competition window in July or August, with athletics and swimming the only two mandatory sports and the other eight to be determined in consultation with the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Glasgow offered 17 sports when it last hosted the Games and this could be the smallest program since 1994.
The shortened program would allow the hosts to deliver a Games on a significantly reduced budget, with the CGF to kick in $100 million which is expected to cover at least half the costs of a reduced Games given the existing infrastructure in Glasgow from 10 years ago.
The rest of the funding would come from broadcast, sponsorship and ticketing revenue.
The Victorian Government wasted $589m on the botched 2026 Games, including the $380m termination fee Andrews had to pay to walk out on the hosting contract and expose Australia to worldwide scorn for failing to deliver on a major event.
Discussions with Glasgow have been ongoing for several months and Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Ian Reid confirmed there was renewed hope the Games may be saved.
“We are continuing to work away on it – I think there is an opportunity,” he told BBC Radio Scotland.
“I am not part of the decision making process – I am on the other side of the table. But, at the same time, I am really positive that we’ve got a really interesting proposition and something few others could deliver given the venues, the people and experience we have got.”
The CGF has always maintained it would do its best to secure a host for the 2026 Games and although there is now less than two years until an expected start date the timeline is achievable.
The news will come as a huge relief for Australia’s hundreds of athletes who are set to fly home from their most successful Olympic Games in history in Paris.
A Commonwealth Games in 2026, when all appeared lost, might be enough of an incentive for many athletes to kick on for the next four-year cycle leading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
More Coverage
Originally published as Glasgow, Scotland steps up to try to save the 2026 Comm Games after Victoria’s abandonment
Will Victoria join nation as Comm Games co-host under radical plan?
Under a new plan, the whole of Australia could host an upcoming Commonwealth Games, but will - and should - Victoria play a part after sensationally cancelling the 2026 games? Have your say.
How Glasgow ‘reset’ can future-proof Commonwealth Games
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games will feature just 10 sports but officials expect that to rebound in the future as the slimmed-down model revives interest in the event.