Events

CGF seeking to create new future for Commonwealth Games

Alexander Stadium pictured during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

Featured image credit: Rob Ridley

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has fired the starting gun on the vision to “reset and redefine” the multi-sport event as a co-created, flexible and sustainable model for the future by launching the process to secure a destination for the centenary Games in 2030.

With Glasgow 2026 preparations progressing apace, the CGF is inviting its 74 Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) to lodge formal expressions of interest for 2030, as well as future editions of the Games.

The CGF’s 2023-2034 ‘Commonwealth United’ Strategic Plan, initially launched in June 2023, and ‘Games Reset’ moves away from the organisation’s traditional host bidding process, enabling it to be flexible in offering the opportunity to potential hosts to be innovative and work collaboratively through a co-creation process on proposals for delivering the Games, while ensuring that all CGAs can meaningfully participate.

The new approach will start with an initial co-creation and collaboration phase between the CGF and representatives of potential host countries or territories along with the respective CGA, followed by a CGF-led evaluation process and recommendation of a host, with the final appointment ultimately decided by the CGF General Assembly.

The CGF has identified a set of principles forming the new framework to create a modern, flexible Games blueprint for the future, including that hosting costs will be significantly reduced from historical Commonwealth Games to diversify the hosting pipeline and enable more, new countries and territories to host.

This will be achieved through continued delivery optimisation and encouraging the use of existing venues for sport and accommodation, unless additional infrastructure is part of existing national development plans that will happen irrespective of a Games.

Host nations will have increased flexibility to shape the Games and ensure legacy benefit for local communities. The CGF, host CGA, and host Government and community will work together to co-create the event and associated legacy benefits and social return on investment.

The new approach is akin to that adopted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for recent Olympic Games bidding processes and comes with the CGF having faced substantial challenges in framing the Commonwealth Games in the modern sporting landscape.

With the most recent edition being held in the English city of Birmingham in 2022, the Scottish city of Glasgow was confirmed as the new host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games back in October, with 10 sports to be contested across four venues in what will be a pared back event.

Glasgow last hosted the Games in 2014, with the event hailed as one of the best ever. The city has stepped in to host the 2026 edition after the Australian state of Victoria announced in July 2023 that it would not proceed with hosting due to rising costs.

The majority of costs for Glasgow’s Games will be covered by the CGF, using the A$380m (£192.8m/€228.7m/$235.8m) it secured in compensation from the Victorian state government following its withdrawal. The support will include £100m (€118.6m/$122.3m) towards the cost of running the Games, which has a reported budget of £114m. By contrast, Glasgow 2014 cost £472.3m to deliver.

CGF president, Chris Jenkins, said: ‘’We have consulted extensively with Governments, our CGA members and other stakeholders to create a new framework for advancing the relevance of the Commonwealth Games by prioritising the five key pillars of sport, cultural, social, diplomatic and economic impact that underpin the purpose of the Commonwealth Sport Movement and impact of the Games.

“Building on this framework, we have identified the strong principles that will steer us in the creation of a modern, flexible Games blueprint for the future. Glasgow 2026 is set to act as a bridge to a bright future for the Commonwealth Games – an exciting first step in the CGF’s journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly co-created, flexible and sustainable model for the future that inspires athletes, delivers tangible legacy benefits, minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact.”

CGF director of Games and assurance, Darren Hall, added: “With Glasgow 2026 fully operational, we start the New Year in a strong position, looking forward with confidence to the long-term future of the Commonwealth Games, and we are delighted to formally open our new collaborative host selection process for the centenary Games in 2030 and beyond.

“In addition to single city proposals, co-hosting within a country and across nations and territories will be actively encouraged to open up more hosting opportunities for more Commonwealth countries previously excluded from the ability to host.”