— Published on April 24, 2025

The Commonwealth Games, or the art of renewal

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Too expensive. This is the reason given by Australia and Canada for withdrawing from hosting the Commonwealth Games. The state of Victoria, which was scheduled to host the 2026 edition, withdrew in 2023, just three years before the event. It has become clear that the cost of hosting these Games in 2026 does not amount to the $2,6 billion that had been budgeted and allocated., Premier Daniel Andrews explained at the time. I will not take money away from hospitals and schools to host an event that costs three times what was estimated and budgeted for last year. "The province of Alberta, which was supposed to host the 2030 edition, followed suit by abandoning the Games in turn, for the same reasons. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) therefore had to renew itself, and it now seems to be paying off.

New life

The CGF has received five official expressions of interest in organizing the 2030 Games. India and Nigeria are among them, like Canada, ready to return to the game. Two other territories have expressed interest in more distant Games, including New Zealand, which is eyeing the 2034 edition. Africa, America, Asia, Oceania: The Commonwealth Games are still of interest, and not just in Europe, which hosted the last edition (Birmingham 2022) and will host the next one (Glasgow 2026). This positive response underlines the importance of the Commonwealth Games and their position as a major multi-sport event in the global sporting calendar, alongside the Olympic and Paralympic Games., says Katie Sadleir, executive director of Commonwealth Sport. This shows the strength and appeal of our reimagined Games model. »

With its back to the wall, the CGF decided to evolve the organizational framework to make room for a co-creation process and give the host country more flexibility. The watchword: foster innovation and reduce costs. Glasgow 2026 was thus able to define a completely revolutionary sports program compared to previous editions. The organizers will focus on ten sports (half as many as in 2022), spread across four existing venues: athletics, 3x3 basketball, boxing, gymnastics, swimming, bowls, judo, netball, track cycling, and weightlifting. Gone are badminton, road cycling, beach volleyball, field hockey, wrestling, rugby sevens, squash, table tennis, and triathlon.

“A bridge to the Games of tomorrow”

The organizers have decided to focus on two major Commonwealth sports: track cycling (26 competitions) and especially swimming (56 competitions), which will be represented like never before at these Games. Glasgow 2026 will also see the return of the legendary mile in athletics, and will focus on para sports in a unique way. With 47 medal events across six different sports (athletics, 3x3 wheelchair basketball, swimming, lawn bowls, track cycling and powerlifting), the 2026 Games will feature the richest para sports programme in the event's history.

« Glasgow 2026 will be a bridge to the Games of tomorrow – an important first step in our journey to reimagine and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible, and sustainable model for the future of major events. We are confident that Glasgow's example will increase the number of countries capable of hosting the Games in the decades to come. ", rejoices Katie Sadleir.

On April 11, Commonwealth Sport concluded an agreement with Seven on the broadcast of the 2026 and 2030 Games in Australia. A sign, according to the executive director, that commercial partners believe in this new model. Glasgow 2026 will be a very special edition, confirms Chris Jones, director of sports at Seven Network. The Commonwealth Games are the only Games of this size to fully integrate para sport into a celebration of difference and performance. Glasgow 2026 will take place entirely within the city limits, creating a unique, exciting, and immersive atmosphere. » The Games of the Future are launched, and well launched!