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≡ “I LOVE KING CHARLES!” ≡
What is today known as the Commonwealth Games began in 1930 as the British Empire Games, held in Hamilton, Canada. It has fallen on some hard time recently, with Glasgow, Scotland to host a stripped-down, 10-sport event in 2026, to cost a modest £114 million (~$147.3 million U.S.), mostly subsidized on a one-time-only basis by the Commonwealth Sport federation.
There is no host for 2030 as yet, and the 20-sport, £638 million (~$824.3 million) – not including government-funded construction costs – bonanza held in Birmingham (ENG) in 2022 is now a very dead dinosaur.
The real possibility that the Commonwealth Games might be dying was possibly saved by, of all people, U.S. President Donald Trump.
Reports surfaced last week that the U.S. was invited to join the Commonwealth of Nations by King Charles III, via a private letter delivered to Trump by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with a formal offer to be made when Trump visits Britain last this year.
Trump responded to the story on his Truth Social platform, posting “I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!”
On Britain’s side, the move could be a way to tone down the Trump Administration’s pressure on Canadian trade, and Trump’s jibes that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state.
But it would also open the door to having the U.S. not only participate, but also host the Commonwealth Games.
The event has been, at the top level, a showdown between England and Australia, the only two countries to top the medal table. Having the U.S. compete would change the nature of the event completely and could bring American cities – and sponsors and television rights sales – into the mix.
Diplomatically, it would also bring powers like India, Nigeria and South Africa into more sporting contact with the U.S.
Commonwealth Sport, the umbrella federation over the Commonwealth Games, sees future Games as more compact and cost-effective. Federation chief Chris Jenkins (WAL) told the BBC that future Commonwealth Games hosts are being asked “not to build or redevelop venues – but co-host with other cities or countries who have existing facilities” and “[a]thletes will stay in hotels and ceremonies could take place indoors at future Games.”
More sports could be added, perhaps up to 17, but the athlete load could go down to perhaps 4,000 athletes vs. the record 5,054 total in Birmingham in 2022.
That size of Games could be interested to cities or regions which have existing facilities and housing, especially universities. The 2029 World University Games in North Carolina is using just such an approach, centered at the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke and other area colleges.
Commonwealth Sport is already looking for hosts for 2030, 2034 and 2038; if the U.S. does join the Commonwealth of Nations, it could change the complexion of the Commonwealth Games forever.
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