No more possible doubt: Scotland has launched itself into the race to organize the Commonwealth Games in 2026. Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) confirmed this on its website, revealing the broad outlines of a project built around the city of Glasgow, resolutely low cost and financed exclusively by private funds. The file prepared by Glasgow provides for a budget of 130 to 150 million pounds, including 100 million provided by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the rest being provided by ticketing, marketing and television rights. The program would be very small, with only around ten sports. The event would take place over 11 days, in July and/or August 2026. Finally, no new competition venue would be built, the events having to take place on the facilities of the Commonwealth Games in 2014. Nor would it be built an athletes' village, with delegations accommodated in a variety of options, including hotels and university residences. With this new Scottish proposal, which comes in addition to the expression of interest expressed by Ghana, the 2026 Commonwealth Games could well be saved. But the multisport event seems doomed to scale back, with a very slimmed-down sports program and limited spending. The Commonwealth Games Federation recently announced that it would reveal the name of the host city for the 2026 edition before the end of May.
