Confirmed: The sports that will and won't be part of Glasgow's 2026 Commonwealth Games
The competition will take place at 4 venues over 11 days
Last updated 22nd Oct 2024
Sports fans are being told more about how Glasgow's scaled-back Commonwealth Games is going to work after the city stepped up following the move by the Australian state of Victoria to pull out of hosting the event in 2026.
10 sports will be played across 4 venues which were all key sites the last time Glasgow hosted the event in 2014, all within 8 miles of each other.
There'll be 11 days of sport between the 23rd of July and the 2nd of August 2026.
Around 3,000 athletes are expected to compete from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories representing a combined total of 2.5 billion people - a third of the world's entire population.
More than 500,000 tickets will be made available for spectators.
4 venues
Instead of the complex, and expensive, operation to convert Hampden Park, the track and field athletics and para athletics will be staged at Scotstoun Stadium.
Swimming and para swimming will again be hosted at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
Cycling and other indoor events will be staged at the Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy velodrome, which were constructed for the 2014 games.
And, once again, the games will be taking over the SEC, making use of the Hydro, Armadillo and exhibition halls.
Hockey, squash and diving are among the sports which won't feature in the scaled down event
And this time there'll be no athletes' village, with competitors and officials making use of Glasgow's network of hotels.
High quality sport
Chair of the games, Ian Reid, told Magic at the Musicals News: "It will look like a Commonwealth Games - I want to emphasise that.
"Of course it's a leaner model - we have got fewer sports - but one of the reasons we're doing that is to make sure we retain the quality."
"We think there'll be at least £150m of direct economic benefit through hotel occupation and through the hospitality industry."
10 sports
The ten sports being confirmed are:
- Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field)
- Swimming and Para Swimming
- Artistic Gymnastics
- Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling
- Netball
- Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting
- Boxing
- Judo
- Bowls and Para Bowls
- 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball
Different by design
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said: "The 2026 Games are an opportunity to set out a new blueprint for the future of sustainable, accessible Commonwealth sport - and it should come as no surprise that the organisers believe Glasgow is the place they can make that happen.
"Our city has a track record that is second to none when it comes to staging major events - and, in particular, working with organisers to make sure new competitions and formats get off to the best possible start.
"Glasgow benefited greatly from hosting the Games in 2014 and officials have shared expertise and experience with both Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Commonwealth Games Federation as they have developed their plans for 2026.
"These Games will be, by design, different from those the Glasgow hosted a decade ago - but the city will play its part in helping make them a success on their own terms."
So special for athletes
Eilidh Doyle, who was the captain of Team Scotland in 2014, and took silver in the 400 metres hurdles, told us:
"This is the only opportunity we get to represent our home nations. Normally when you complete at the Olympics or world event you're representing Great Britain. That's why it's so special for the athletes.
"To have it in Scotland would be such an amazing thing to happen again."
"Scotland has proven over the last decade since 2014 that we can put on fantastic sporting events. We've recently had the UCI Cycling World Championships and the World Indoor Athletics Championships."