The Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2026, is set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland. However, the event will not be as special as the previous editions. The host city revealed a revised list of 10 sports. It is aimed at keeping the event budget-friendly. The 23rd edition is scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2. Major sports such as hockey, badminton, shooting, and wrestling, have all been removed from the program.
This will be Glasgow’s comeback as host city after 12 years, following the 2014 event. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has revealed that the Glasgow 2026 Games will have fewer events than the 2022 Birmingham edition, which had 19 sports. It is a huge setback for many nations, especially India. As the nation has excelled in the sports like hockey, badminton, wrestling, cricket, and shooting. Six of the 12 sports in which India won medals at the 2022 CWG.
This includes hockey, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis, and squash, which have been removed from the 2026 edition. The Commonwealth Games Federation has announced that the sports program will include Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball.
Commonwealth Shifting Away from Traditional Sports
Is this a sign of a shift away from traditional sports? This remains unclear as the CGF has not fully removed the traditional sports. However, due to budget issues in the upcoming edition, it has been omitted. This will also cause a reduction in viewership as people watch the sports that are not included in the forthcoming edition. So the federation also needs to re-think it later after the 2026 edition.
Four venues will be used for the Games: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena (home to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome), and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). Athletes and their support staff will stay in adjacent hotels. The CGF stated that the Games will generate over £100 million in “inward investment into the city” and an estimated £150 million in economic benefit for the region.
