Key sports axed from cut back Commonwealth Games
Only ten sports will feature at the cut-price Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2026 after Victoria pulled out of hosting.
Next year’s Games, relocated to Scotland after Victoria’s withdrawal as host, will feature just 10 events, which is nine less than the previous edition held in 2022 in Birmingham.
Hockey, cricket and rugby sevens have been cut, along with diving, badminton, beach volleyball, mountain biking, rhythmic gymnastics, squash and table tennis.
Athletics and swimming were the only sports guaranteed a spot on the program, which also includes track cycling, weightlifting, 3×3 basketball and lawns bowls – all of which include a para equivalent.
Netball, artistic gymnastics, judo and boxing round out the chosen 10, with the Games to run from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, August 2.
As a cost-saving measure, the 10 sports will be spread across just four venues – Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena and the Scottish Event Campus.
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About half the number of athletes who competed in Birmingham – 4822 – are set to be in Glasgow with the reduced cost contributing to the decision to cut weighty team sports.
Cricket was only reintroduced at the 2022 Games.
Athletes and support staff will stay in hotel accommodation rather than an athletes’ village while the event will have low-cost opening and closing ceremonies.
Australia topped the medal tally at Birmingham 2022 with 180, including 67 gold, however that figure won’t be surpassed in Glasgow given the leaner program.
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The 2026 program will be officially released later on Wednesday.
Glasgow stepped in to host the event at short notice after Victoria controversially pulled out last year, with the state government claiming costs had spiralled to a projected $6 billion.
Victoria had to pay $380 million compensation to the Commonwealth Games Federation, with $200 million of that going to Glasgow so it can run a cut-down Games on a shoestring.
Commonwealth Games Federation boss Katie Sadleir said today that sports excluded from Glasgow can be a part of future Games, but warned the event will never return to its previous size.
Sadleir said that while 10 sports were locked in for Glasgow, that was likely to change at future Games.
“It’s an incredibly hard decision, but I think one of the things I want to stress is that the 10-sport program for Glasgow is not set in stone for the Games of the future,” she said.
“We’ve just started the process of looking at 2030, which is our centenary Games, and while some sports have missed out for this time, that doesn’t set a precedent for the future.
“Every time you come out with a new program, there’ll be new sports added in, some sports that will have to step down for that addition, but that does not mean that is forever.”
– with AAP
