Tue, June 23, 2026
Commonwealth Sport CEO says Glasgow 2026 model has inspired other host cities and nations
According to Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadlier, Glasgow 2026’s lower-cost and more sustainable delivery model has attracted interest from other potential host cities and nations.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place from 23 July to 2 August, and the city will welcome around 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories across the Commonwealth, who will compete in 10 sports and six Paralympic sports. With 47 Paralympic sport events, Glasgow 2026 will be the largest integrated Paralympic sport programme in Commonwealth Games history.
Glasgow was named host of the 2026 Games back in 2024 after Australia had to relinquish hosting rights due to costs. Following this, the program was cut from 19 sports (in 2022) to just 10 for the 2026 Games, and according to Reuters, the city has had to work with a budget 60% smaller than the 2022 edition which took place in Birmingham.
“The UK and Scottish Governments stepped in to ensure that the games took place, which for a time was in doubt,” as stated in the UK House of Commons, Hansard, Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 debate, Volume 787, 10 June 2026. This speech elaborated that: “The new model for Glasgow 2026 is not funded through the normal methods. The delivery of the Games themselves does not really require public funding, but it is welcome that the UK Government have made available £2.3 million as a contingency towards security costs.”
The Glasgow 2026 Games are expected to cost approximately £160 million, compared with £780 million for the Birmingham 2022 Games. The city previously hosted the event in 2014. This makes Glasgow only the third city in history to host the Games twice. Back in 2014, the budget was £576 million, so £160 million represents a substantially lower budget than the city's previous edition of the Games. The reduced number of sports has assisted, along with the city’s existing infrastructure from other events such as the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Champs.
Phil Batty, CEO of the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company, elaborated: “We've got a city that's hosting major events on an annual, bi-annual basis and each of those events has been able to learn and build on the previous one.”
Furthermore, the city will rely on electric vehicles and electric shuttle buses during the event instead of petrol or diesel vehicles. This will help reduce emissions, improve air quality, and it supports the Games' sustainability goals.
According to Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadlier, Glasgow's approach has generated interest among other cities and nations considering hosting major sporting events. India will be the next host in 2030.
Sadlier voiced: “We wanted to take the Commonwealth Games around the Commonwealth, not to just have it bounce back and forth between the members that could afford a very large-scale event…
Because we’ve made these changes... hosts are saying, hey, we can do this, this is doable.”
Ministers also highlighted the importance of the event for the city: “For those of us who live in what we might call the devolved nations, the Commonwealth games are the only opportunity that our athletes have to wear the vest of their nation at a world-class event in sport.”
As the event starts 4 days after the World Cup final, it is hoped the momentum generated from the football will be transferred to the Commonwealth Games.
