‘Reached an agreement’: Scotland tipped to Host 2026 Commonwealth Games
Marred by uncertainty for over a year, the 2026 Commonwealth Games may have inched closer to a new host.
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A familiar face will reportedly grasp what is fast-becoming world sport’s most poisoned chalice.
After facing uncertainty for over a year, the Commonwealth Games slated for 2026 appears to have found a new host.
This uncertainty was sparked by Victoria’s sudden withdrawal from hosting duties, a decision that sent shockwaves through the sporting world.
Victoria had originally stepped in to save the Games when it agreed to host the event as a regional affair, a stark contrast to the grandeur of Melbourne’s 2006 Games, which followed the success of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
The future of the 2026 Commonwealth Games seemed bleak after the Victorian government’s unexpected pullout in July 2023.
Premier Dan Andrews made the stunning announcement that Victoria would no longer host the Games due to spiralling budget costs, leaving the event’s fate in limbo.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) was left scrambling to find a new host as the clock ticked down.
Glasgow: The home of the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
Enter Scotland. According to veteran Olympics reporter Duncan Mackay, Glasgow is set to become the new host for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“Some good news for the Commonwealth Games, I am hearing. Multiple people have told me during the (2024 Paris Olympics) that (Commonwealth Games Federation) have reached an agreement with Scotland for Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” he tweeted overnight.
Mackay claimed an official announcement could be made as early as this week as the global sporting community catches its breath following the excitement of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
News.com.au has contacted the Commonwealth Games Federation, Team Scotland and Commonwealth Games Scotland for further comment.
Glasgow, a city with a proven track record in hosting major sporting events, previously held the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
That edition was hailed as one of the most successful in the Games’ history, with nearly 5,000 athletes competing across 17 sports.
The city’s experience and existing infrastructure make it an ideal candidate to rescue the 2026 event from the brink of cancellation.
Ian Reid, chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, expressed his optimism earlier this year about the Games’ potential revival.
“We know how important the Commonwealth Games is for athletes, sports, and supporters, and we remain concerned about the impact the ongoing uncertainty around 2026 is having on everyone concerned,” Reid said in a statement outlining Scotland’s proposal.
“It is vital that a Games takes place in this cycle, and we are hopeful that a positive outcome can be delivered through the Commonwealth Games Federation’s discussions with other nations.”
Reid emphasised the importance of finding a sustainable model independent of public funds.
“Glasgow has a fantastic track record of delivering large sporting events within sensible budgets, with world-class facilities and expertise already in place as a legacy of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games a decade ago,” he said.
“We believe our concept provides the CGF with a viable, cost-effective, and exciting solution which importantly won’t involve significant sums of public funding. We look forward to discussing the concept further with the CGF, our member sports, athletes, and wider partners.”
A Games with no hope
Despite the optimism, the CGF’s efforts to secure a new host for the 2026 Games have been fraught with challenges.
The federation initially aimed to announce the new host by May 2023, but that deadline passed without any confirmation, fuelling further doubts about the future of the event.
In Australia, the Gold Coast made an early bid to host the Games after Victoria’s withdrawal, having previously hosted a successful event in 2018.
However, the bid lacked support from higher levels of government, and by December 2023, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate officially withdrew the city’s $700 million bid.
Tate had hoped a “streamlined” Games, co-hosted with Perth, could “save Australia’s tarnished reputation” and inject billions into the national economy.
“We did our best, and that’s all people can expect,” Tate stated.
“Sadly, at the same time, our country’s reputation as a place that reneges on a global sports contract remains in tatters.”
Some in New Zealand also briefly entertained stepping in as a host.
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity after Victoria backed out, suggesting that New Zealand could take on the event in 2026 instead of waiting until 2034.
“You know that I’m a fan of doing it in 2034, but now that Victoria has said enough is enough, let’s see if we can jump in there,” Mauger said. However, like the Gold Coast, Christchurch’s bid failed to gain the necessary governmental support to move forward.
Malaysia was also approached by the CGF to host the 2026 Games, with an offer that included £100 million (AUD $193 million) in supporting funds. However, this proposal was ultimately rejected, adding to the growing list of setbacks for the event.
The Commonwealth Games have increasingly needed help finding willing hosts in recent years.
Five of the last six editions have been held in Australia or Britain, as other nations shy away from the financial burden of hosting.
Birmingham, England, stepped in to host the 2022 Games after South Africa lost its hosting rights due to insufficient progress in preparations. Birmingham’s decision to host in 2022 led to a frantic search for a 2026 host, ultimately resulting in the Victorian saga.
‘Numb to all this?’: Victoria paid $600 million not to host
In 2023, Andrews claimed the costs of hosting the games had blown out to between $6 and $7 billion, well above the $2.6 billion allocated in the budget.
But Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive officer Craig Phillips previously said the government had “exaggerated” costs — and those claims were supported by the findings of a Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) report that found the costs had only blown out to $4.9 billion.
The 12-day event was planned for Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton, Ballarat, and Gippsland.
The proposed model was unique, with no other major multi-sport event held across five host areas.
Earlier this year, a report from the Victorian auditor-general said the decision to host and then withdraw from the games cost Victorians $589 million with “no discernible benefit.”
The bulk of the cost came from a $380 million payment that had to be made as part of a compensation agreement for the decision not to proceed with the games.
Critics swiftly lambasted Andrews’ decision.
One such vocal pundit of the Andrews decision, Victorian talkback radio king Neil Mitchell, further lamented the call while watching the action in Paris.
“This Comm Games scandal unfolding in Victoria would be enough to destroy most governments,” he posted on X.
“Hundreds of millions of dollars just wasted. Have Victorians become numb to all this?”
Commonwealth Games Australia had accused the Andrews Government of trying to “trash the brand with the Australian public” for political benefit.
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the state government’s Comm Games catastrophe remains ongoing.
Athletics Australia echoed CGA, lamenting that ultimately, it’s the hard-working Australian athletes who will suffer—wherever the games are held.
“The upheaval this decision has caused for athletics in Victoria and Australia, as well as the Commonwealth Games, is immeasurable, with a blatant disregard for the significant logistic, emotional, financial and reputational damage caused,” AA wrote in a submission to the state inquiry.
“The Commonwealth Games brand may never recover from this episode, and in that, hundreds of past athletes who have competed in the green and gold for Australia with pride will now experience a diminished public perception on the value of their performances in this event.”
Is Glasgow ready?
As rumours swirled about Glasgow gearing up for an eleventh-hour bid for the Games, BBC Scotland interviewed locals to gauge the city’s readiness for its second such event in 12 years.
In April, it reported that Glasgow City Council was already facing years of budget cuts. These included reducing the number of teachers and care workers and rising school meal prices as the local authority sought to save money.
“The funding, depending on where it comes from, will be a concern for a lot of people given the state of the economy at the moment,” Local activities instructor Lily McColm said.
“But I think it’s important to take part in things like that when the world is rubbish and when times are hard. It’s something that can foster a bit of hope.”
“I think it’s a good idea as long as we can afford it,” another local, John Dempsey told the BBC.
“Right now the government keep telling us that there’s cutbacks. I’d be all for it if it was within a budget we could afford.”
Another, Alison Cairns, said the last Glasgow Games was a “positive experience”.
“I think having large events, and sporting events that are not just football, would be a good thing,” she said.
The 2014 event was a boon for Scotish athletes, with the hosts landing 53 medals—their highest ever tally and a whopping estimated 96 per cent of event tickets were sold.
Originally published as ‘Reached an agreement’: Scotland tipped to Host 2026 Commonwealth Games
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