Glasgow to host scaled down 2026 Commonwealth Games

  • Oct, Tue, 2024

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 UK 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, 3×3 basketball and 3×3 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.

The Games have undergone a restructuring, and several sports that were part of the 2022 edition have been cut or have not been included in the initial programme. Over 1,800 athletes less than 2022, here’s a comparison of which sports were cut or are notably missing:

Diving (Aquatics), Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Cricket (Women’s T20), Mountain Biking, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Field Hockey, Para Powerlifting, Rugby Sevens, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, and Wrestling.

These cuts reflect a significant reduction in the variety of sports for 2026. Some core sports like swimming, athletics, and netball remain, but other popular events, especially in the para-sports category and some team sports, have been excluded from the 2026 lineup.

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. (CMC)

The post Glasgow to host scaled down 2026 Commonwealth Games first appeared on CNC3.