Glasgow has officially announced that the Commonwealth Games will be held between 23 July and 2 August this year, confirmed in a report to Glasgow City Council. This follows on from the Australian state of Victoria withdrawing from hosting duties due to rising costs, with the Scottish government stepping in to fund the games. The event will be significantly smaller than previous iterations, with only 10 sports taking place across just four venues. Road-based events will not feature, nor will any new accommodation be built, with competitors and officials instead staying in existing accommodation across the city.
The venues of the Emirates Arena, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, the Scottish Events Campus and Scotstoun stadium will host the games, with athletics and swimming confirmed as mandatory sports. Although the remaining sports to be included have not yet been announced, organisers can select from a list of 22 core sports such as cycling and boxing, with para sports expected to be integrated as well. The last time the Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow, 17 sports were contested.
The concept of the event is based on a significantly reduced budget, timeline and scale from previous games, meaning the approach and experience will be different. Victoria agreed to pay around £190m to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Commonwealth Games Australia, resulting in a commitment from the CGF to pay for the entire cost of the Games. A Glasgow 2026 programme board has been set up to oversee the city’s role in the Games and monitor delivery progress within the agreed budgets, ensuring a legacy for Glasgow.
The reduced event is expected to be a different experience from previous Commonwealth Games, however it is still anticipated to be an exciting celebration of sport and competition. With just four venues being used and no new accommodation being built, the city is focusing on keeping expenses to a minimum. That said, with competition from some of the world’s top athletes, Glasgow is looking forward to the Games and showcasing its ability to host major global sporting events
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