Glasgow’s role in keeping the Games alive
Glasgow might have saved the Commonwealth Games, but don’t expect to see them back on these shores for a generation. Four of the last seven editions have been staged in Great Britain, and it is clear that Commonwealth Sport realises it needs to cut ties to the mother country for its future relevance.
Scotland gets its eternal thanks for stepping in at late notice when Australia said it couldn’t afford to host. Australian taxpayers ended up paying this city £100 million in compensation to stage the Games on their behalf and were duly thanked by topping the medal table with 70 golds.
“Glasgow has acted as a bridge to the future of the Commonwealth Games movement,” said Commonwealth Sport president Dr Donald Rukare.
“Every host writes its own chapter, and Glasgow’s has been one of bravery, courage, friendship and, above all, outstanding innovation.”
India will host the centenary Games in 2030, and there are four private expressions of interest for 2034. Nigeria has made no secret of its desire to become the first African host, while New Zealand believes a lower-cost approach to hosting finally gives it a chance to welcome the Commonwealth for the first time since 1990. Canada hasn’t hosted since 1994 either.
Insiders admit there is more chance of the Olympics coming back to the UK – with a bid mooted for the 2040s – before another Commonwealth Games.
How Glasgow changed the hosting model
For years, officials presented hosts with a long list of demands and requirements. Glasgow has changed all that.
“It’s a much more collaborative process,” said Commonwealth Sport chief executive Katie Sadlier.
“We’re not telling hosts, ‘This is what you must do.’ Instead, we’re asking, ‘What are you trying to achieve?’ and then working with them to make that happen.
“We’ve set a guideline of around 15 to 17 sports, but if a future host comes to us with a proposal they believe works for them, we’ll sit down and work through it together. We’re not imposing rigid targets. We don’t want countries building facilities they don’t actually need just to host the Games. If a nation genuinely wants to build a stadium because it fits its long-term plans, that’s fine, but it shouldn’t automatically become part of the Games budget.
“We don’t want hosts spending huge amounts of money on things we don’t think are necessary any more. Glasgow is using existing venues, stakeholders have accepted reduced service levels, there aren’t fleets of VIP cars, and people are travelling by bus. Everyone has embraced that because they wanted the Commonwealth Games to happen.”
The approach has been welcomed as a more sustainable way to stage the event, with Glasgow’s version showing how the Games can survive without forcing hosts into expensive new-build plans or the kind of excess that once came with major multi-sport events.
Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £33m is raised every week for good causes. It’s because of you that sport, arts, heritage and community projects, as well as our athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, are supported across the UK.
For the latest build-up, Sir Chris Hoy backs Glasgow to put on a show as Commonwealth Games host city and Commonwealth Games 2026 athletes arrive in Glasgow as Kerr leads home hopes showed how the city stepped in and how the home nations’ athletes are now arriving for the event. Glasgow’s opening ceremony has also been described as a tear jerker, with Sir Chris Hoy set for a key role, while Josh Kerr says Glasgow 2026 will be 'much more of a fun time' after world record after reflecting on his teenage Commonwealth Games hopes.
