★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★
★ To get the daily Sports Examiner Recap by e-mail: sign up here! ★
≡ GLASGOW 2026 ≡
“Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) has secured support from Scottish and UK governments for its proposed plan for hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”
That’s the happy announcement from Commonwealth Games Scotland on Tuesday, confirming the last step to allow Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games on reduced scale. Also:
“CGS welcomes the support and commitment from both governments which ensures that a 2026 Games in Glasgow has taken a significant step forward to being realised. CGS will now finalise discussions with wider Games stakeholders over the coming weeks and a formal announcement will follow on successful conclusion of the formal process.”
Scottish Health and Social Care Minister Neil Gray said that the award will be a “testament to Glasgow and Scotland’s fantastic reputation for hosting international events.
“In 2026 all eyes will once again be on Glasgow, and I have every confidence that Scotland’s largest city will provide a fitting platform for some of the world’s top athletes.”
The Commonwealth Games Federation – which owns the event and has been desperately looking for a 2026 host – is also thrilled with President Chris Jenkins (WAL) explaining in a statement:
“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. (£1 = $1.32 U.S.)
“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.”
Commonwealth Games Scotland’s April proposal was a radical slimming of the event:
● “Significantly reduced budget costing £130-150 million, with no significant ask of public funds.
● “Core sport programme of 10-13 sports.
● “Use of existing sporting venues and accommodation options, rather than developing purpose-build facilities.
● “The concept would be funded by £100 million from the Commonwealth Games Federation, with the balance through commercial income (ticketing, sponsorship, broadcasting etc).”
The £100 million from the Commonwealth Games Federation will come from the A$380 million ($256.8 million U.S. or £195.1 million) withdrawal fee paid by the Australian state of Victoria, which abandoned the event in 2023, after signing on to organize it in 2022.
It has now been reported that the Glasgow plan for 2026 will involve just four venue sites and the 10 sports, compared to 17 sports and a cost of £543 million at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The BBC reported that the targeted cost is £114 million.
Observed: Once the formalities are concluded, this is another example of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020 in action: less cost, less complexity, using existing facilities, which was first demonstrated at the transformational Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad in Los Angeles in 1984.
It’s worth noting that the Commonwealth Games had just 10 sports included on its program as late as 1994, but the event has become inflated in the 2000s, reaching 20 sports at Birmingham (ENG) in 2022. But the Commonwealth Games Federation, recognizing the difficulty in attracting hosts, declared in 2021 that the only required sports in the Games are athletics and swimming.
Look for the Commonwealth Games Federation to sell Glasgow’s concept as the path forward for other possible hosts, with the event’s centennial coming up in 2030.
¶
★ Receive our exclusive, weekday TSX Recap by e-mail by clicking here.
★ Sign up a friend to receive the TSX Recap by clicking here.
★ Please consider a donation here to keep this site going.
For our updated, 547-event International Sports Calendar for the rest of 2024 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!
