Glasgow to host ‘scaled down’ 2026 CWG?

Glasgow is set to be announced as the host city of a “scaled down” Commonwealth Games in 2026, a year after Australian state Victoria pulled out due to ballooning costs. The 2026 Commonwealth Games were to be held in multiple cities across Victoria but the Australian state announced in July 2023 that it has pulled out citing a steep rise in projected expenditure.

The withdrawal led to the Victorian government paying compensation of 380 million Australian dollars to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). But it is learnt that the Australian authorities have promised “a multi-million pound investment” to help finalise Glasgow’s offer to rescue the multi-sport event.

The Scottish and United Kingdom governments had refused to use any public money towards the rescue bid, which was being largely bankrolled by a £100 million supplement from the CGF.

Reports said if Glasgow hosts the 2026 CWG, it would feature between 10 and 13 sports. The last edition in Birmingham in 2022 had 20 sports.