Wednesday 15 January 2025
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Glasgow 2026 chief promises "inclusive" Commonwealth Games

Glasgow 2026 chief promises

Wednesday 15 January 2025

Glasgow 2026 chief promises "inclusive" Commonwealth Games

Wednesday 15 January 2025


The man leading the delivery of the next Commonwealth Games believes it will be a "game-changing moment" for sport.

Glasgow stepped in as host for the 2026 event after Victoria in Australia pulled out due to escalating costs.

It has cut the number of events and will utilise existing venues in an attempt to deliver a more cost-effective solution to an occasion which is one of the few occasions where Jersey's elite compete on the world stage in an island vest.

Phil Batty is now the CEO on the management team organising Glasgow 2026.

"2026 is definitely a game-changing moment for the Commonwealth Sport movement," he told BBC Scotland.

"We've had such successful Games in previous years – in Birmingham, on the Gold Coast, in Glasgow.

"I think people will be looking at Glasgow 2026 and seeing what happens here, and Scotland's contribution to the future of the movement as a really defining moment in the history of the Commonwealth Games."

Glasgow was a bridge to a new model of delivering the Games, he said.

"There's no better place in the Commonwealth than Glasgow to be able to do that," explained Mr Batty.

"We've got the expertise, we've got the venues, we've got the talent. I'm excited about how this is really going to take the Commonwealth sport movement forward.

"I see a really positive future for the Commonwealth Games."

Glasgow_Commonwealth_Games.png

Pictured: Glasgow stepped in as host after Victoria in Australia pulled out because of escalating costs.

Questions have been raised about the future of the Commonwealth Games in what is already a busy sporting calendar.

Glasgow 2026 will take place from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 2 August and feature a 10-sport programme concentrated across four venues within an eight-mile corridor of the city.

Mr Batty said: "Delivering the Games is a team effort, which will bring over £100m of inward investment into the city, and I am looking forward to working with such a hugely talented workforce, experienced network of suppliers, partners, and local communities to bring the vision for Glasgow 2026 to life.

"Delivering at pace and without public funding, means that we, as an Organising Company, and our partners, need to think differently and innovatively.

"Glasgow 2026 will be fuelled by the legacy of 2014 – venues, talent and expertise – and of course the world-renowned Glasgow welcome.

"As we prepare for next year, we are determined to create an accessible and inclusive Games for both local communities and international visitors alike."

In Birmingham 2022, Guernsey's Alastair Chalmers and Lucy Beere took home medals, bronze in the 400m hurdles and silver in bowls respectively.

Meanwhile, Jersey's para-discus thrower Rachel Leck – who was selected for the Paralympic Futures programme last year – hopes to be the first para athlete to fly the island flag in a Commonwealth Games.

But the restructure is likely to mean the Channel Islands are likely to be able to send fewer athletes than in the past.

The sports selected for the 2026 Games are:

  • athletics and para athletics
  • 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
  • 3x3 wheelchair basketball

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