Glasgow to host scaled-down 2026 Commonwealth Games

GLASGOW, Scotland (CMC):

Glasgow will once again host the Commonwealth Games, but this time the 23rd edition will be a much a smaller event when it returns in 2026.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) yesterday confirmed its September 17 announcement that plans by Glasgow to host the quadrennial Games were to move forward after the Scottish and United Kingdom governments removed political roadblocks.

Glasgow, which stepped in to host the event after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year due to rising costs, last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

The Games will run from July 23 to August 2, 2026.

Ten sports will feature including athletics and para-athletics (track & field), swimming and para swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling and para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and para powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and para bowls, 3x3 basketball and 3x3 wheelchair basketball.

A dozen other sports that were staged at the most recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022, were dropped from the programme, allowing Scottish officials to deliver a low cost Games in less than two years.

Notably missing from the event are major team sports including hockey, rugby sevens and cricket.

As many as 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations are expected to compete.

Events will take place at four venues - Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena (including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome), and the Scottish Event Campus.