Unprecedented. The 2026 Commonwealth Games, still without a host city since the decision in July 2023 by the Australian state of Victoria to hand over the organization, could finally find a new host country in Glasgow, Scotland. But with funding provided almost entirely by another country. Commonwealth Games Scotland explained at the end of last week through its president, Ian Reid, that it had found a formula to recover the next edition of the multi-sport event without having to ask the authorities for a penny. The Scottish project in fact provides for a version low cost Commonwealth Games, with only 10 sports instead of the 22 on the programme for the 2022 edition in Birmingham, four competition venues and the use of an existing structure to house delegations. Total estimated cost: 114 million pounds (135 million euros), including security and a contingency fund. The bulk of the budget would be covered by… the 100 million pounds compensation paid by Victoria to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), after its decision to withdraw from the 2026 edition. The rest of the sum would be covered by ticketing and partnership. Ironically, Glasgow would thus organise Commonwealth Games financed largely by Australian taxpayers. A final decision was expected during the Paris 2024 Games, the two parties having held several meetings, but it was postponed. Proof that the novel formula imagined by the Scots has not yet convinced everyone.
