Sport announced for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Track cycling and boxing are among the events set to take place at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, it has been revealed.

A program announced on Tuesday, reduced to ten sports, also includes athletics and swimming as compulsory sports – but badminton and hockey have been removed.

The Games, which were last held in Glasgow in 2014 and cost over £540 million, will be played at four venues between July 23 and August 2, 2026.

Glasgow stepped in as hosts after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to rising costs.

A total of 3,000 athletes from up to 74 Commonwealth countries and territories are expected at the 2026 Games.

The event will also feature “fully integrated para-competitions” in six of the selected sports.

Katie Sadleir, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), said: “The Games promise to be a truly inclusive sports festival, celebrating culture and diversity that inspires athletes and sports – with a fan experience that is more accessible than ever before.” “

First Minister John Swinney said the event was an exciting opportunity for the people of Scotland.

He said: “Although Glasgow 2026 will look very different to previous Games, we can and must use this as an opportunity to work together to ensure this new approach delivers a strong and sustainable future for the Games.”

The CGF said a number of factors were considered when deciding which sports to include, including “universality of participation and quality of competition” as well as local appeal.

The last time the Games were held in Glasgow there were 17 sports played – this time there are 10 sports:

• Athletics and para-athletics (athletics only)
• Swimming and para-swimming
• Artistic gymnastics
• Track cycling and para-track cycling
• Netball
• Weightlifting and para-powerlifting
• Boxing
• Judo
• Shells and Parashells
• 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball

Organizers said they realize fans and athletes of sports not included will be “incredibly disappointed” but that these Games will have no impact on future inclusion.

Some sports such as cycling and gymnastics have had their disciplines streamlined.

Glasgow’s 2014 cycling program included mountain bike and road races, but this time athletes will only compete on the track.

In artistic gymnastics there is no place for rhythmic disciplines, only artistic gymnastics.

There are also no diving competitions.

Ice hockey was dropped from the program, although a national ice hockey center was built in Glasgow for the final games.

Road-based events such as triathlons or marathons will not be on the program – these were already free for spectators in 2014.

Rugby sevens, previously played at Ibrox Stadium, is also canceled and there will be no racket sports at all.

The event will include an opening and closing ceremony and there will be a royal baton relay before the games.

An estimated 500,000 tickets will be sold across the various events, with the games expected to be worth £150 million for Glasgow.

The CGF confirmed that staging the Games is expected to cost around £114 million.

The bill will cost £100 million, with £2.3 million coming from Commonwealth Games Australia – which has pulled out of hosting the event – and £2.3 million from the British government.

The balance will come from commercial revenue such as ticket sales, broadcast rights, commercial sponsorship and merchandise.

The four venues used during the event are the Emirates Arena, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Scottish Events Campus and Scotstoun Stadium.

Organizers said these venues were “operationally viable and economically valuable.”

They confirmed that Scotstoun will only host athletics, while the Scottish Event Campus and Emirates Arena will host multiple sports.

It has not yet been decided exactly which sports will take place at which venues.

To keep costs down, no additional venues will be built, but some improvements will be made, such as: B. temporary seating at the four venues.

Athletes and officials will stay in “existing accommodations throughout the city.”

Analysis by Chris McLaughlin, BBC Scotland sports news correspondent

Organizers have been in talks with sports associations in recent weeks, breaking the news to some that they will have to sit out this game.

For some it will be a bitter blow and for others a surprise.

Badminton and hockey could be particularly affected given the profile of both sports on the Commonwealth stage, but it is indicative of the difficult decisions that have been made and are yet to come.

The biggest crowd pleasers remain and generally there is a plan, but it is still very rough by usual standards.

The big pitch that ultimately persuaded a skeptical Scottish government and an even more skeptical Glasgow city council to join in must now be made to fill the key posts that will take Glasgow over the finish line in 2026.

Only those who are used to working with very tight deadlines and even tighter budgets need to apply.

The official approval and announcement of the sports program is a major milestone and a first glimpse of what people can expect from this new-look event.

Can it really be a blueprint for the future of this troubled event?

The city’s reputation as a venue for top sporting spectacles and the future of the Commonwealth Games are at stake.