Glasgow to host 2026 Commonwealth Games after cash injection from Australia

Key Points

Glasgow will host the Commonwealth Games for the second time in just over a decade
Scotland will welcome athletes from across the world for what has been described as a scaled-down and sustainable Games
A funding dispute has only being settled after an intervention from Australian authorities
Original hosts Victoria pulled the plug after an estimate of costs between double and triple the original budget
The Commonwealth Games Federation was forced into a scramble to find an alternative host

Glasgow will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after agreement was reached on a funding plan for the event.

A deal has been agreed for the city to hold the Games after Commonwealth Games Australia offered a multi-million pound investment to ease fear about financial risks involved in putting on the multi-sport event.

Glasgow will host what has been described as a “scaled-down” Games, with fewer sports than previous years and using existing facilities.

The Australian state of Victoria was originally named as hosts but pulled out last year, citing rising costs as their reason for withdrawing.

While a formal confirmation has yet to be made, Health Minister Neil Gray said that the remaining barriers to the event had been removed.

In answer to a question about the status of the Glasgow bid, Mr Gray wrote: “The Scottish Government has conducted a thorough assessment of Commonwealth Games Scotland’s proposal for Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“That assessment has been conducted alongside Commonwealth Games Scotland, the Commonwealth Games Federation, Glasgow City Council, the UK Government and, most recently, Commonwealth Games Australia.

“The collaboration has been extremely positive and productive and has resulted in the finalisation of a strong event proposal that will help to support a new future for the Commonwealth Games and deliver economic and sporting opportunity for Scotland.

“On that basis, I have written to the Commonwealth Games Scotland today to inform them that the Scottish Government will give its support for the proposal.”

Mr Gray pledged that Glasgow “will deliver a world-class sporting event which will reimagine the Commonwealth Games for future generations to come and support more of our Commonwealth partners to be able to host future iterations of the event”. The MSP added that the proposal will bring an economic boost to Glasgow and Scotland and will support upgrades to existing facilities that will have a long-lasting benefit to communities.

Ian Reid CBE, chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “Today Glasgow 2026 is one step closer to becoming a reality and we are delighted that both the Scottish and UK governments have backed our proposal.

“We have been clear from the outset that our Games concept for Glasgow 2026 aligns with the CGF’s strategy to make the Games more accessible for future hosts, whilst ensuring that public funds are not required. Glasgow is one of the few cities in the Commonwealth that can deliver on time given its world class facilities, experienced workforce and strong supply chain.

“This is a really exciting opportunity and we will be working hard over the coming days to bring the final pieces of the puzzle together. I would like to thank both the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia for their confidence and financial contributions to the project, which have ensured that the Games can continue, that public funds will not be required and which delivers a significant economic boost to the City of Glasgow and to Scotland.”

Funding from Australia ends dispute over cost to public

In early 2022, it was announced that the Australian state of Victoria was to host in what would be a first “regional” Games Commonwealth Games Federation

Victoria paid £100m to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in compensation, with those funds promised to Glasgow if they could take on the responsibility of hosting.

Commonwealth Games Scotland put together a plan for a smaller version of the event, at a cost of £114m. £100m was to come from the CGF, with the remainder coming from private finance.

The proposal has Glasgow using existing venues to keep costs down, and is expected to feature ten sports, down from the 18 different disciplines in 2014.

The plan had been hanging in the balance due to a dispute between the UK and Scottish governments over funding.

Sport

Why is Glasgow going to host the Commonwealth Games?

The multi-sport event is to return to Glasgow after agreement was reached on funding.

The Scottish Government had said that they could not provide any public funds to cover additional costs and asked the UK Government for a guarantee to underwrite any financial risk. In response, the UK Government offered £2.3m of funding, with no underwriting of risk, and asked that Holyrood match that figure.

Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) stepped forward to offer their own financial support for the bid, and their intervention has led to the Games being approved.

While Victoria paid £100m in compensation to the Commonwealth Games Federation, CGA received separate compensation and said they were prepared to share some of that money to help put the Games on.

Talks on Monday over the detail of that deal were successful and agreement has now been reached to bring the Games back to Glasgow in two years’ time.

What will Glasgow 2026 look like?

Tollcross International Swimming Centre would again be one of the Commonwealth Games venues. SNS Group

Part of the concern from the Scottish Government over hosting the Games came from “reputational risk”. There was a worry that after hosting a successful event in 2014 that met with a positive response, the pared-back nature of the new proposal may look less impressive in comparison.

Commonwealth Games Scotland’s plan is to put on the best Games possible without the need for new infrastructure projects or huge expense.

The opening and closing ceremony would be on a far smaller scale than last time, when Celtic Park was the scene for a, impressive spectacle.

Cutting down the number of sports from 18 to ten is a key part of the proposal. There would be no dedicated athlete’s village, and competition will take place across four main venues to minimise transport, hire and security costs.

Tollcross International Swimming Centre has been earmarked for investment, as has Scotstoun Stadium, with a plan to safeguard its future as “a world-class rugby and athletics venue”.

When the concept for the Games was unveiled in August, Commonwealth Games Scotland chair, Ian Reid CBE, said “The Games will undoubtedly look and feel different to the historic events of 10 years ago. However, the circumstances facing us are remarkably different – the 2026 Games hang in the balance and the UK finances are facing tough decisions.

“But the Games presents a real opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland, giving us the chance to bring wide-ranging benefits to the country and public purse.

“Scotland has been offered £100m+ of the Victorian Government’s money to secure the future of the Commonwealth Games. That is £100m+ of inward investment at a time when there are critical works needed in the city; that investment alone would account for 5% of the overall inward investment into Scotland over the past year. To potentially turn down such a significant sum of money, which only serves to boost the Glasgow and Scottish economies and has been deliberately created not to rely on the public purse at a time of economic uncertainty, is – in our opinion – short-sighted.

“We are confident of delivering a world-class sporting event to packed crowds in Glasgow, with some of the world’s sporting stars providing inspirational moments for the millions of spectators in Scotland, the UK and across the Commonwealth.

A ‘forward-thinking, sustainable, and attractive proposition’

The plan for 2026 is to “build on the legacy” of Glasgow 2014. SNS Group

CGF President Chris Jenkins had welcomed Commonwealth Games Australia’s intervention and believes that the plans for Glasgow 2026 offer a positive vision of the Games for the future.

Jenkins welcomed the plan as one that gave an opportunity to “reset and reframe” the Commonwealth Games into a “co-created, flexible and sustainable model”.

He said that there would be a focus on ensuring a lasting legacy and direct benefit for Glasgow, as well as generating significant inward investment for the city and for Scotland.

“We commend Commonwealth Games Australia (CGAus) for making this generous multi-million-pound offer to further enhance and support the Glasgow 2026 ambitions.” Jenkins said on Sunday.

“It demonstrates the tremendous support from around the Commonwealth and the overwhelming desire to have a Games take place in 2026.

“The Commonwealth Games Federation fully endorses the innovative, cost-effective sustainable concept Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) has developed, and unreservedly believes that Scotland and the CGS team… is more than able to deliver a world-class event in such a short period of time.

“A fundamental part and principle of the Glasgow 2026 project has always been to build a concept where the delivery of the Games does not require financial underwriting by either the Scottish or UK Governments. These Games are funded by the Commonwealth Games Federation investment of £100 million plus private income. Budgets have been devised by a team of experienced major event budgeting professionals and a significant contingency is included in the budget.

“In utilising existing sporting, transport and accommodation infrastructure, and world-class venues and expertise, the compact concept would not only build on the legacy of Glasgow 2014 but would position Scotland as pioneers at the start of our journey.

“This forward-thinking, sustainable, and attractive proposition is something we are hugely passionate about as it will allow more countries to host these Games in the future. We believe our new Games model will lead the way for others to follow.

“This further support from the wider Commonwealth Sport Movement demonstrates the commitment and confidence our members have with this concept as well as being a clear signal of the importance the Commonwealth Games holds in the world sporting calendar.

“On the basis that the Games are fully-funded and responsibly budgeted, with further support now pledged from international partners, we look forward to working with the Scottish Government to fully realise the benefits of a new, innovative Games in one of the Commonwealth’s most valued and experienced sporting cities.”