Glasgow has been confirmed as the host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the Scottish city staging a stripped-back programme of the multi-sport event.
The future of the 2026 edition was thrown into doubt when the Australian state of Victoria, the original host, withdrew last year citing rising costs.
However, the Scottish government effectively gave the green light to Glasgow last month, and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced on Tuesday that the 2014 hosts will stage the next Games, with the event scheduled to take place from 23 July to 2 August 2026.
The upcoming edition will feature just 10 sports, compared to the 19 on show at the 2022 Games in Birmingham, central England.
Para sport will once again be fully integrated as “a key priority and point of difference for the Games”, with six Para sports included in the programme.
The schedule will include athletics and Para-athletics (track and field), swimming and Para swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling and Para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and Para powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and Para bowls, as well as 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball.
Boxing is another of the ten sports that will return to Glasgow.
Track cycling and boxing are among the events that will be included in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, it has been revealed.
A stripped-back programme of 10 sports, announced on Tuesday, also includes athletics and swimming as mandatory – but badminton and hockey have been dropped.
The Games, last held in Glasgow in 2014 at a cost of over £540m, will be held across across four venues between 23 July and 2 August 2026.
Glasgow stepped in to host after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out because of rising costs.
A total of 3,000 of athletes from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories are expected to compete at the 2026 Games.
The event will also feature “fully integrated para-competitions” across six of the selected sports.
Katie Sadleir, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), said: “The Games promise to be a truly immersive festival of sport and celebration of culture and diversity that inspires athletes and sports – with a fan experience more accessible than ever before.”
First Minister John Swinney said the event is an exciting opportunity for the people of Scotland.
He said: “While Glasgow 2026 will look quite different to previous Games, we can, and we must, use this as an opportunity to work collaboratively to ensure that this new concept brings a strong and sustainable future for the games.”
The CGF said the a number of factors, including “universality of participation and quality of competition” as well as local appeal were considered when deciding what sports to include.
The last time the Games were in Glasgow, 17 sports were contested – this time they will feature 10 sports:
Athletics and para-athletics (track and field only)
Swimming and para-swimming
Artistic gymnastics
Track cycling and para-track cycling
Netball
Weightlifting and para-powerlifting
Boxing
Judo
Bowls and para-bowls
3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball
An estimated 500,000 tickets will go on sale for the various events, with the Games expected to be worth £150m to Glasgow.
The CGF confirmed putting on the Games is expected to cost approximately £114m.
It will pay £100m towards the bill, with £2.3m coming from Commonwealth Games Australia – who pulled out of hosting the event – as well as £2.3m from the UK government.
The balance will come from commercial revenue such as ticket sales, broadcast rights, commercial sponsorship and merchandise.
The CGF said Glasgow 2026 will deliver more than £100 million ($130 million) of inward investment into the city and is projected to support over £150 million of economic value added for the region.
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