C'wealth 2026 Commonwealth Games

[AdelaideGT]

According to UK contacts, Glasgow will soon be announced as host of a (reduced programme) Commonwealth Games.

 

[Satan]

The last time the Games were in Glasgow, 17 sports were contested - this time they will feature 10 sports:

• Athletics and para-athletics (track and field only)
• 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 and 3x3 wheelchair basketball

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Sports missing that were competed for at 2022 games in Birmingham are the following;

2022 Commonwealth Games - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

• Aquatics
  • 
    Diving (12) (details)
• 
  Badminton (6) (details)
• 
  Beach volleyball (2) (details)
• 
  Cricket (1) (details)
• 
  Cycling (details)
  • 
    Mountain biking (2)
  • 
    Road cycling (4)
• 
  Gymnastics (details)
  • 
    Rhythmic gymnastics (6)
• 
  Field hockey (2) (details)
• 
  Rugby sevens (2) (details)
• 
  Squash (5) (details)
• 
  Table tennis (11) (details)
• 
  Triathlon (5) (details)
• 
  Wrestling (12) (details)

That is 70 of the 280 events cut. But given team sports involvement it would mean more than 25% cut in competitors as team sports Hockey, women's Cricket and Rugby Sevens as well as Road cycling have a lot of competitors for only a few medal events.

 

[AdelaideGT]

A no-brainer really. If you want to cut down costs and numbers, team sports are the obvious ones to get the chop.

The Commonwealth Games have been going for nearly a century but never had team sports until the 1990s.

I feel sorry for a couple of sports (eg diving) but good decision overall Glasgow.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Of the 10 Sports that Glasgow is covering they can be broken into following categories;

4 Core sports - at both Olympics and Comm Games that draw crowds and TV ratings

• Athletics and para-athletics (track and field only) ***
• Swimming and para-swimming
• Artistic gymnastics
• Track cycling and para-track cycling

Long time traditional sports, that are cheap to host, ie don't need big expensive stadiums

• Weightlifting and para-powerlifting
• Boxing

Sports dominated by Commonwealth Nations

• Netball
• Bowls and para-bowls

Newer more updated version of an old sport - only need 4 competitors not 12 for each nation

• 3x3 basketball and 3x3 wheelchair basketball

Not sure why this sport is in - but has been at Olympics since 1964.

• Judo

*** To save money on security and labour, the marathons and I believe race walking events on the road have been cut.

Same reason as why road cycling and triathlon events have been cut.

 

[AdelaideGT]

Judo is certainly the strangest one. Some of the other weirder sports (eg 3x3) are probably helped by having para events for 'inclusivity' that can use the same facilities.

 

[magpie_marty]

Lawn Bowls missed out

 

[Satan]

Lawn Bowls missed out

Rob parella still about?

 

[big_e]

Lawn Bowls missed out

Nah, it's in.

Bowls and Para Bowls | Commonwealth Games | #Glasgow2026

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Bowls and Para Bowls will be major sports at the Games

www.glasgow2026.com

 

[Cmarsh]

Despite the so claimed nostalgia of having a mile race, it's a bit weird having this when all the other races will be in metric.

Glasgow Comm Games to feature 'blue-riband event' after 60-year absence

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe welcomes the return of the mile event in the athletics program for the streamlined 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

www.abc.net.au

What's next? Bringing back yard races for swimming?

 

[AdelaideGT]

Despite the so claimed nostalgia of having a mile race, it's a bit weird having this when all the other races will be in metric.

What's next? Bringing back yard races for swimming?

The mile is still regularly run in events around the world. Unlike the 100 yards which would be a real surprise if announced.

Yard races for swimming very unlikely as they would require a slightly longer pool.

 

[Cmarsh]

The mile is still regularly run in events around the world. Unlike the 100 yards which would be a real surprise if announced.

Yard races for swimming very unlikely as they would require a slightly longer pool.

It just seems the odd one out due to every other race at the Games being in metric distances, maybe the marathon is the exception.

 

[AdelaideGT]

maybe the marathon is the exception.

Yes. 26 miles, 385 yards. Thanks Queen Alexandra!

 

[Expensive_Horse5538]

Sprinter Gout Gout will not be competing in the Commonwealth Games - he is instead choosing to compete in the world under 20s championships in the US, which are a week after the games.


Can't say I'm surprised - despite being a fan of the games, they are sadly in a decline as seen by issues with finding hosts, etc. Doesn't help that in one of the biggest markets (UK), the BBC has lost the rights to TNT, meaning that either they or another network sub licences some limited rights, it will reduce exposure of the games.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Sprinter Gout Gout will not be competing in the Commonwealth Games - he is instead choosing to compete in the world under 20s championships in the US, which are a week after the games.


Can't say I'm surprised - despite being a fan of the games, they are sadly in a decline as seen by issues with finding hosts, etc. Doesn't help that in one of the biggest markets (UK), the BBC has lost the rights to TNT, meaning that either they or another network sub licences some limited rights, it will reduce exposure of the games.

I'm also not surprised by this move, but its more about marketing, than the decline of the Comm Games.

In the 2025 Tokyo World Champs, Gout finished 4th in his semi final. There are 3 semis x 8 runners, with the 2 winners and the next 2 fastest times making the final.

Gout's time was the 18th fastest, but 11 of those faster times were by athletes from Commonwealth countries and if they all turn up to Glasgow and run similar times, they will make it hard for Gout to make the final, let alone win it.

Going to the U/20 World Junior Championships, and win that in under 20 seconds, in the USA in Eugene Oregon, and that will be big news, especially in USA and Oz compared to making a final in the Comm Games and not winning it or a medal. It's also good for his major sponsor adidas.

Last northern summer was tough for Gout, as he was out of season and doing his final year at school, so he wasn't fully invested in the northern hemisphere athletics season. Part of the marketing by World Athletics was to have an U/23 200m for him in Monaco Diamond League meet that he won. He did win an open age 200m a week or two before that in Europe.

It will be interesting to see what he does over the next 8 weeks in Oz, at major meets and nationals in Sydney in mid April and then in northern hemisphere between June and August, now that he has left school and can devote more time to his career.

The upside of Gout pulling out of the Comm Games, is that 7 will cover the U/20 World Champs, a first by an Oz TV Network. I suspect most of it will be on 7+ and some on 7 or 7mate given night finals in Eugene will be held between 10am to 1pm AEST. Gout's races will be on TV and 7+ and looks like Bruce will be there calling them.

Here is a summary of the times recorded by the 24 runners in the 3 semi finals in Tokyo last September.

SEMI-FINAL | 200 Metres | Results | Tokyo 25 | World Athletics Championships

World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025, Outdoor | SEMI-FINAL | 200 Metres | Results

worldathletics.org

 

[BGman]

Love international sporting carnivals such as Olympics and Comm games but dont like that the Aussie taxpayer is forking out for one based in another nation. I know the reason, but Glascow put up its hand after Chairman Dan canned the Melbourne games. The events have already been sliced to the bare bone, so far less cost to the host.