Scottish government has decided to back the city of Glasgow to host a “trimmed-down” version of the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said on Tuesday that Scottish government has backed the innovative proposal to host the games.
“The Commonwealth Games Federation is delighted to learn today that Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) has received the government support it requires to proceed with its innovative proposal to host the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026,” the CGF said in a statement.
The 2026 Games were originally slated for multiple cities across Victoria but the Australian state made a shock announcement in July last year that it has pulled out of the multi-sport event due to ballooning costs.
The future of the 2026 edition was thrown into doubt when the Australian state of Victoria, the original hosts, withdrew last year citing rising costs.
But Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) announced in April it had developed a “cost-effective” plan to stage the Games in Glasgow and Scottish health secretary Neil Gray said Tuesday,”I was pleased to write to Commonwealth Games Scotland today to inform them that the Scottish Government will give its support for the proposal.”
Gray said the government had conducted a “thorough assessment” of the CGS scheme, which is set to see the Games returning to 2014 hosts Glasgow.
He added it would “help to support a new future for the Commonwealth Games and deliver economic and sporting opportunity for Scotland”.
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Chris Jenkins welcomed Tuesday’s announcement, which paves the way for a fourth Games in Scotland, with Edinburgh having staged the 1970 and 1986 editions.
“We have been working with Commonwealth Games Scotland 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,” he said in a statement.
Jenkins stressed the Glasgow 2026 plan had no need of major public investment — something that could have scuppered the proposal at the outset.
“At the heart of our discussions has been an investment of £100 million ($132 million) from the CGF and the commitment that Glasgow 2026 would not require financial underwriting from either the Scottish or UK Governments,” he said.
Australia’s offer of funding part of the costs has also been accepted.
“The additional generous contribution of around £2.3 million from Commonwealth Games Australia to the Glasgow concept will further enhance the Games delivery,” said Jenkins.
The Australian funding effectively represents part of a compensation payment from the Victorian government to the CGF.
However, the Games is expected to have just 10-13 sports compared to 19 at the 2022 Games in Birmingham.
Victoria was the second successive host to renege on its commitment to stage the Games, after citing a projected cost of more than A$6 billion (£3.13 billion, $4.09 billion).
In 2015, Durban was named as 2022 host but 17 months later the South African city was stripped of the Games amid financial problems before Birmingham stepped in — the fifth time in the last six editions the event has been staged in either Britain or Australia.
The relevance of Commonwealth Games, which evolved out of the British Empire Games and connects the participants as British colonies, is constantly questioned in the modern day with regional events such as Asian Games and European Games taking greater importance.
However, its supporters argue it gives athletes valuable experience of a multi-sport event, leaving them better prepared to compete at a pinnacle event such as the Olympic Games.