Glasgow hosts Commonwealth Games after Victoria withdrawal
Glasgow is set to host the Commonwealth Games, which will run from Friday until 2 August, featuring 3,000 competitors. This event comes after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew from hosting in July 2023 due to projected costs soaring to more than A$6 billion. Glasgow had previously agreed to stage the event in April 2022 after the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) faced difficulties in finding a host.
The 23rd edition of the Games will be a scaled-back version compared to previous events. The budget for this year’s Games is a reduced amount, with no public money being spent. The CGF is contributing funds, and the remaining funds will come from commercial revenue streams, including ticketing, sponsorship, broadcast rights, and merchandise.
The opening ceremony will be held at the Hydro, where King Charles is expected to officially open the Games. Athletes from 74 nations and territories will attend, alongside dignitaries such as Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney, and the First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth. Some of the 4,000 Games volunteers, ranging in age from 16 to 96, will also participate in the celebration.
Competition details and notable athletes
The Games will feature 215 gold medals, a reduction from the 261 offered when Scotland last hosted in 2014. However, Glasgow 2026 will include a record 47 para-sports events. The action is scheduled to begin with bowls and para-bowls heats at 09:30.
The competition will take place across four venues: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow International Arena, and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). While Usain Bolt was a major draw in 2014, this year’s event will see athletes like mile world record holder Josh Kerr competing at Scotstoun Stadium in front of 11,000 spectators.
Notable athletes competing include Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah, who is aiming to defend her titles. Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse and Jamaican Shericka Jackson are also expected to compete. Scotland’s Eilish McColgan will seek to retain her 10,000m Commonwealth title, while Laura Muir will run the 5,000m. In swimming, South Africa’s Chad Le Clos will return to Glasgow, aiming to become the most decorated male in Games history, adding to his current 18 medals. Other Olympic champions in the pool include Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan, England’s Adam Ramsay-Peaty, and Northern Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen. Scotland’s most successful Olympian, Duncan Scott, will also participate.
New events and ticket information
The mile race returns to the Games for the first time since 1966, replacing the 1500m. This event, scheduled for 1 August, will feature a strong line-up including Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman, and Neil Gourley. Australia’s Cameron Myers will also compete. In the women’s mile race, Scotland will be represented by Jemma Reekie.
Due to the scaled-back nature of the Games, some sports have been excluded. Hockey, badminton, squash, and diving competitions will not be held. The cycling programme will be confined to track events, and only artistic gymnastics will be included, with no rhythmic events.
Organisers are hoping for a late surge in ticket sales, as seats are still available for various events. A total of 500,000 tickets have been made available, which is less than half the 1.2 million for Glasgow 2014. Adult tickets for the opening ceremony at the OVO Hydro were available, with prices ranging from £45 to £95. Tickets for bowls and para bowls start from £10, while a swimming session featuring Adam Peaty has a starting price. Members of Scotland’s Tartan Army supporters’ club were offered free tickets for selected sessions, including athletics, para powerlifting, netball, and 3×3 basketball.
The baton relay for this year’s Games involved each competing team decorating its own baton, rather than a single baton travelling across the Commonwealth. The Scottish leg of the relay began on 1 July with swimmer Duncan Scott on the River Clyde. The baton has since visited communities, events, and festivals across Scotland’s 32 local authorities.
The closing ceremony will also take place at the Hydro, featuring performances by Delta Goodrem and a rock legend, bringing the Games to an end.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Daniel Fairbrother is the Senior Football Correspondent at Latest News UK, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with over a decade of reporting experience. He spent eight years on the football desk of a Yorkshire daily before moving into national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Leeds, he watches non-league football and runs a five-a-side league. “The best football stories are won in the week, not on the whistle.”