Scottish government throws support behind Glasgow 2026 bid for Commonwealth Games

MANCHESTER – The Scottish government has backed a bid for Glasgow to host a scaled-down version of the Commonwealth Games in 2026, 12 years after the city last staged the quadrennial multi-sport event.

The Games were originally slated for the Australian state of Victoria, but they withdrew as hosts due to rising costs.

“We have been working with Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) and the Scottish government for several months and are delighted to hear CGS has received confirmation of support from the government to enable them to progress with their proposal to host the Games in 2026,” Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Chris Jenkins said in a statement on Sept 17.

At the heart of discussions, he said, is the £100 million (S$170.7 million) investment from the CGF and the commitment that Glasgow 2026 would not require financial underwriting from either the Scottish or UK governments.

Commonwealth Games Australia also committed a multi-million pound investment to help finalise the Glasgow deal, “a strong sign of the support and excitement for the concept within the wider Commonwealth Games movement,” Welshman Jenkins said.

The Glasgow proposal is for a scaled-down version of previous Games, with 10 sports to be held at four venues.

“The Commonwealth Games are a key pathway for elite athletes, a great event for spectators and a fantastic opportunity to bring together the Commonwealth family of nations in a positive and impactful way,” a UK government spokesperson said.

“This is a positive outcome... and an opportunity to showcase what a new, more sustainable model for the Games looks like to assure its future as an event to 2030 and beyond.”

Close to 5,000 athletes from 71 nations competed in 18 sports at the 2014 Games in the Scottish city. The budget was £543 million, with £90 million spent on security.

The total budget for the next Games is expected to be about £114 million, the BBC reported.

There had been concern the Games – first held in the Canadian city of Hamilton in 1930 as the former British Empire Games – would cease to exist altogether as the CGF struggled to find hosts.

In March, Malaysia was asked to step in after Victoria pulled out but rejected the offer due to time constraints, costs and an insufficient offer of funding in another major setback for the event.

“We will work closely with CGS to positively conclude final stakeholder discussions with the aim of formally announcing Glasgow as the host city for 2026 as soon as possible,” Jenkins said.

Durban was set to be the first African city to host the last edition in 2022, but ran into financial issues, with Birmingham and the British government stepping in to salvage the event. REUTERS