AusLeisure

Commonwealth Games Scotland has secured the required Scottish and UK Government support for Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) President, Ben Houston enthused “this is a fantastic outcome for the Commonwealth sport movement.

“We commend and applaud Commonwealth Games Scotland for their reimagination of the Games in a sustainable and cost-effective way, as well as the Scottish and UK Government for their support of the concept.”

Glasgow will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games following Victoria’s withdrawal as host and with a 'generous' contribution from Australia.

The Games had been due to be staged in regional Victoria, but in July 2023, the then-Andrews government announced that wasn't happening, saying the games had become too expensive.

Houston added “Australia’s athletes, and those from across the Oceania region, are now expected to have the chance to compete on the global stage as the pathway to Brisbane 2032 continues.”

Houston doubled down on the importance of the Commonwealth Games to the Australian high-performance pathway as one of five pinnacle event opportunities outlined in Australia’s HP 2032+ Sport Strategy.

46% of Australia’s athletes first compete in the green and gold at the Commonwealth Games and 51% of athletes who medal at the Commonwealth Games go on to medal at their next international competition.

“The Commonwealth Games are at the heart of Australia’s performance pathway, often providing the launch pad for continued and ongoing success by Australian athletes,” Houston said.

“They are irreplaceable in terms of providing global competition and, in the absence of an Australian host, it was in the interests of Australian sport that we make an overseas Games a reality.”

On Tuesday, it was revealed CGA would pay £2.3 million ($4.5 million) towards Glasgow's games.

It's understood that under the proposal, no public funding is required from the Scottish Government to host the games, which will be scaled-down and feature less events.

The proposal still needs to be put to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which is the international organisation responsible for the event.

Houston acknowledged that the reduced sport programme will impact several CGA member sports.

“We know that a reduced sport programme will have an impact on some member sports and their athletes, and our commitment to them is that they will remain a valued member of the Commonwealth family,” Houston added.

In the coming weeks, final stakeholder discussions will take place to provide for the formal announcement of Glasgow, Scotland as host.

This includes Games dates for the European summer, the sport programme and the multi-million pound contribution that CGA will make to delivering Glasgow 2026.

Houston continued "Commonwealth Games Australia welcomes the enthusiasm for the Games by the Scottish and UK Governments, and we want to do all that we can to make Glasgow 2026 a reality.

"We appreciate that the model is different and that that creates perceived financial and reputational challenges, but we have every confidence in the model proposed by Commonwealth Games Scotland.

"As one of the beneficiaries of the settlement with the Victorian Government, we today commit a multi-million pound investment into the Games to be further negotiated with Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Scottish Government."

In the coming weeks, final stakeholder discussions will take place to provide for the formal announcement of Glasgow, Scotland as host.

This includes Games dates for the European summer, the sport programme and the multi-million pound contribution that CGA will make to delivering Glasgow 2026.

Glasgow last hosted the games in 2014.

Image. Team Scotland Commonwealth Games 2022 Credit: Scottish Athletics

Related Articles

3rd September 2024 - Scotland could host 2026 Commonwealth Games financed by Victorian Government

26th August 2024 - Reports of governance dispute at Commonwealth Games Australia

31st July 2024 - Ernst and Young report determines legacy benefits of Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

20th March 2024 - Victoria’s Auditor-General finds 2026 Commonwealth Games cancellation cost state more than $589 million

4th December 2023 - Gold Coast Council abandons notion to host 2026 Commonwealth Games

6th October 2023 - Victorian Parliamentary Commonwealth Games cancellation inquiry launches public hearings

29th August 2023 - Federal Sports Minister Anika Wells signals backing for potential Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bid

28th August 2023 - Industry input to Senate’s Commonwealth Games cancellation inquiry

25th August 2023 - Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews concedes business case for axed 2026 Commonwealth Games was ‘hardly the greatest piece of work’

19th August 2023 - Victoria Government to pay $380 million in compensation for Commonwealth Games cancellation

7th August 2023 - Commonwealth Games loses potential 2030 host and considers one year delay for 2026 edition

20th July 2023 - Two NSW Mayors call for Commonwealth Games to be held in Western Sydney

19th July 2023 - Victorian Government facing significant penalty costs for Commonwealth Games exit

18th July 2023 - Australian Sports Commission offers support to those impacted by Victorian 2026 Commonwealth Games’ cancellation

18th July 2023 - Swimming Australia ‘disappointed’ with cancellation of Victorian Commonwealth Games

18th July 2023 - Shock announcement sees Victoria Government withdraw from hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games

18th July 2023 - Commonwealth Games Federation ‘hugely disappointed’ at Victorian Government relinquishing 2026 Games hosting

21st June 2023 - 1000 day countdown for 2026 Victoria Commonwealth Games

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.