Scotland has come to the rescue of the Commonwealth Games, with Glasgow to host a pared-down event in 2026 funded by Australians.
The multi-sport event had been endangered since the government of Victoria pulled out as host last year, citing spiralling costs, which, it claimed, had blown the budget out to $6 billion.
Victoria paid $380 million in compensation to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), of which $200 million will be directed to Scotland to cover its hosting costs.
That figure will be topped up by $4.5 million from Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) to cover security, with neither the UK nor Scottish governments prepared to use public money – though the former is said to be prepared to underwrite any additional security costs.
“This is a fantastic outcome for the Commonwealth sport movement,” CGA president Ben Houston said.
“The Commonwealth Games are at the heart of Australia’s performance pathway, often providing the launch pad for continued and ongoing success by Australian athletes.
“They are irreplaceable in terms of providing global competition and, in the absence of an Australian host, it was in the interests of Australian sport that we make an overseas Games a reality.”
The next Games in Glasgow, which last hosted in 2014, is expected to feature just 10 sports, down from the 19 in Birmingham, England, in 2022.
“We know that a reduced sport program will have an impact on some member sports and their athletes,” Houston said.
“And our commitment to them is that they will remain a valued member of the Commonwealth family.”
It is not clear what sports will be cut, with athletics and swimming the ones guaranteed to survive.
The pared-back 2026 edition will be staged at four existing venues in Glasgow, have low-cost opening and closing ceremonies and no athletes’ village.
When the city last hosted in 2014 there were 17 sports and the event cost was about $1 billion – Birmingham’s budget was nearly double that in 2022.
In a response to a written question lodged at the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Health and Sport Minister Neil Gray said: “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 Commonwealth Games Scotland today to inform them that the Scottish Government will give its support for the proposal.”
CGF president Chris Jenkins said it would work closely with Commonwealth Games Scotland to formally announce Glasgow as the host city as soon a possible.
“We believe Glasgow 2026 will be an important first step in our commitment to reset and reframe the Commonwealth Games as a co-created, sustainable model that minimises costs, inspires athletes, and excites hosts and International federations,” Jenkins said.
He confirmed CGA had contributed $4.5 million to “enhance the event”.
It will be the second successive Commonwealth Games to be salvaged by a British city, with Birmingham staging the 2022 event after the South African city of Durban was stripped of the event amid financial problems and missed deadlines.
