All Go For Glasgow Following Multi-Million Dollar Rescue Mission For 2026 Commonwealth Games
A multi-million-dollar injection of funds negotiated by Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) has given 2014 hosts Glasgow the green light to host “the lost Games” of 2026 – saving the multi-sport event from oblivion and saving face for Australian sport.
The Scottish and UK Governments confirmed overnight their support for Glasgow, Scotland to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games – after the Victorian State Government (AUS) made its shocking withdrawal earlier this year.
The return to 2014 hosts Glasgow comes after the tumultuous decision by former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews to throw the towel in – walking away from the commitment to host the Games in regional Victoria – and forced into a massive multi-million-dollar compensation payout which has in turn breathed life into the Glasgow move.
GREEN LIGHT FOR GLASGOW: Australia’s athletes in 2014. Photo Courtesy Commonwealth Games Australia
And a “take no prisoners” negotiation by the CGA team for that $380 million compensation from the Victorian State Government for the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia has rescued the Games.
An embarrassing loss-loss for Andrews and Victoria after his State had spent at least $589 million NOT to host the Games.
It is believed the Glasgow event will be a scaled down version of the Games with only 10 sports, compared with the 21 Victoria had been preparing for.
There would be just four venues, no more than 13 kilometres apart with existing stadiums, accommodation and transport connections to be relied on to avoid the need for building major infrastructure.
But scaled down it is but the Games will go on!
The decision to walk away by Victoria rocked the Commonwealth Games movement and left the CGA and Australian sport in a highly embarrassing position, Commonwealth Games CEO Craig Phillips accusing Andrews of “trashing the Commonwealth Games for his own benefit.”
But a financial rescue mission engineered by the CGA has saved the Games and full marks to CGA president Ben Houston, Craig Phillips and their team.
Under the Commonwealth Games Scotland proposal, £100 million (AUD$194 million) of the compensation would go towards the Glasgow event.
The rest would be funded through “commercial opportunities”, without the need for any government funding.
This outcome has been made possible thanks to the CGF underwriting the Games, and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) investing millions of pounds to support the best possible experience for the athletes of the Commonwealth in a reduced format.
Ben Houston says the decision is a fantastic outcome for the Commonwealth sport movement and has received immediate support from the Australian Olympic Committee and Swimming Australia.
FLYING THE FLAG: Glasgow to the rescue win 2026. Photo Courtesy: Markus Stitz/Scottish Swimming
“We commend and applaud Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) for their reimagination of the Games in a sustainable and cost-effective way,” said Houston.
“Australia’s best, and those from across the Oceania region, are now expected to have the chance to compete on the global stage as the pathway to Brisbane 2032 continues.
“The reduced sport programme will, unfortunately, have an impact on some member sports and their athletes.
“But our commitment is that irrespective of the outcome, all will remain a valued member of the Commonwealth family and decisions taken around Green2Gold2Great investment and membership status will be made only after consultation.
“Australia’s immediate focus will be providing our team Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM (a nine-time Games gold medallist) and her Team Executive the tools they need to deliver both high performance and experiential outcomes for the Australian Team.
“Forty-six percent of Australia’s athletes first compete in the green and gold at the Commonwealth Games and 51 percent of athletes who medal at the Commonwealth Games go on to medal at their next international competition.
“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,” Houston said.
“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.”
RICH HISTORY: Rob Woodhouse says “The Commonwealth Games are a rich part of Australia’s sporting history. Photo Courtesy Rob Woodhouse Collection.
Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse applauded the support that will now see the Commonwealth Games back on the international sporting stage in 2026.
“The Commonwealth Games are a rich part of Australia’s sporting history and like all sports fans, we are delighted with today’s news that Glasgow has support to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” said Woodhouse, himself a triple Commonwealth Games swimmer and triple silver medallist from 1986 and 1990.
“The Commonwealth Games are an important pathway for our swimmers – they provide valuable experience for our athletes to be exposed to a multi-sport event, a Village environment and performing under pressure.
“I applaud Commonwealth Games Australia, Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Commonwealth Games Federation for their reimagination of the Games which is an important part of the journey towards 2028 LA Olympics and our own 2032 home Games in Brisbane.”
Australian Olympic Committee President Ian Chesterman said Glasgow 2026 will provide a valuable opportunity for Australian athletes to compete on the world stage.
“The Commonwealth Games is an important part of Australia’s sporting landscape,” Mr. Chesterman said.
“It is a great testing ground for young athletes, who gain vital experience competing in a world class international multi-sport environment.
“Glasgow 2026 will be another key milestone for Australian sports and athletes on the performance pathway to Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.
“I congratulate Commonwealth Games Australia for playing such a proactive role in securing the future of the Games.”
The CGF statement is available HERE.
The Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) statement is available HERE.
CGA has also issued a statement, available HERE