Glasgow is potentially gearing up to host the next Commonwealth Games, as per recent reports. Sports journalist Duncan Mackay shared on social media that while at the Paris Olympics, he learned from multiple sources that an agreement had been reached for the 2026 games to be held in Glasgow.
If this plan comes to fruition, Glasgow would be welcoming the games back 12 years after hosting it for the first time in 2014. The decision comes after Victoria withdrew its bid to host the event last year.
Australia had initially planned to host the games but backed out due to the projected high costs of approximately 589 million Australian dollars. In contrast, Glasgow has a proven track record of successfully hosting large sporting events within reasonable budgets. Ian Reid, chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, highlighted Glasgow’s existing world-class facilities and expertise from the 2014 Commonwealth Games as valuable assets for hosting the event once again.
Commonwealth Games Scotland has put forward an economic proposal for hosting the games in Glasgow, suggesting that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) would provide £100 million in funding, with the remainder of the budget covered by ticket sales, sponsors, and broadcasting rights.
There is optimism surrounding Glasgow’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games, with stakeholders looking forward to further discussions with the CGF, member sports, athletes, and other partners. Humza Yousaf, while serving as the first minister, had already expressed interest in exploring the possibility of Glasgow hosting the games.
The potential announcement of Glasgow as the host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games is eagerly awaited, with expectations of a formal confirmation following the conclusion of the ongoing Olympics in Paris. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development in the world of international sports.