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Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) has set out its vision for Glasgow to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026, with a “compact” four-venue model proposed for the event.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is seeking a new host for its showpiece event in 2026 after the Australian state of Victoria announced in July last year that it would not proceed with staging the Games due to rising costs.
The CGF announced in April that it was considering “multiple proposals” to host the 2026 Games. No details were disclosed but there have been widespread reports in recent weeks that Glasgow, which hosted the 2014 Games (pictured), has been in talks over staging the 2026 edition.
CGS has now revealed that it has been developing a cost-effective and sustainable concept for the Games alongside the CGF and other stakeholders, including the Scottish and UK governments. CGS’s proposals have been fully endorsed by the CGF.
Costs would be minimised through a scaled-back programme of 10 sports – half the amount of the most recent Games in Birmingham, England. CGS has proposed a four-venue model within an eight-mile corridor, which would minimise transport, hire and security costs. Existing sport and accommodation venues would also be used, avoiding the need for major capital projects.
CGS has insisted that the project will not require any underwriting from the Scottish or UK governments, with the Games to be funded by private income. The majority of costs would be covered by the CGF, using the A$380m (£196m/€233m/$258m) it secured in compensation from the Victorian state government following its withdrawal last year.
The support will include £100m towards the cost of running the Games, with the remainder to be funded through commercial opportunities. An additional multi-million-pound investment would be made into upgrading sports facilities, including maintaining Tollcross and ensuring the future of Scotstoun as a rugby and athletics venue. Funding would also be provided for city activation projects across Glasgow.
CGS is anticipating that 500,000 tickets would be made available to spectators, with the Games to provide an estimated economic value add of over £150m to the region. Economic benefits of the Games laid out by CGS include the creation of a Scotland-focused procurement strategy, which would provide operational and event-based contracts for Scottish suppliers.
The cost of the Games has been calculated at around £114m. The concept includes budgeting for all direct Games costs, including security and other blue-light services where required, a budget contingency of up to 24%, and scope to adjust service levels to reduce costs where required.
Ian Reid, chair of CGS, said: “The Games will undoubtedly look and feel different to the historic events of 10 years ago. However, the circumstances facing us are remarkably different – the 2026 Games hang in the balance and the UK finances are facing tough decisions. But the Games presents a real opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland, giving us the chance to bring wide-ranging benefits to the country and public purse.
“Scotland has been offered £100m+ of the Victorian government’s money to secure the future of the Commonwealth Games. That is £100m+ of inward investment at a time when there are critical works needed in the city; that investment alone would account for 5% of the overall inward investment into Scotland over the past year.
“To potentially turn down such a significant sum of money, which only serves to boost the Glasgow and Scottish economies and has been deliberately created not to rely on the public purse at a time of economic uncertainty, is – in our opinion – short-sighted.”
Reid added that the window of opportunity for a decision is “fast closing” and said that a decision over the coming weeks is “critical” to delivering the Games in Scotland.
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