Hockey, rugby sevens and cricket are among the many big-name Commonwealth Video games casualties, axed from the pared-back Glasgow program in 2026.
Subsequent yr’s Video games, relocated to Scotland after Victoria’s withdrawal as host, will function simply 10 occasions, which is 9 lower than the earlier version held in 2022 in Birmingham.
Different sports activities not noted embody diving, badminton, seaside volleyball, mountain biking, rhythmic gymnastics, squash and desk tennis.
Athletics and swimming had been the one sports activities assured a spot on this system, which additionally consists of monitor biking, weightlifting, 3×3 basketball and garden bowls — all of which embody a para equal.
Netball, inventive gymnastics, judo and boxing spherical out the chosen 10.
Squash Australia boss Robert Donaghue stated the information was heartbreaking to the nation’s high gamers, who had been set to make use of the Video games to organize for the following Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
“In the present day’s announcement is a blow to the gamers who’ve had their dream of competing within the Commonwealth Video games taken away from them,” he stated.
“With Rachael Grinham carrying the flag into the opening ceremony in 2022 and Australia contributing 11 gold and 33 complete medals since 1998, Australia has achieved nice success in a sport which has been a part of the material of the Commonwealth Video games for 1 / 4 of a century.”
Hockey Australia was equally upset to be axed given the power of Commonwealth nations within the sport and the existence of the 2014 venue.
Nationwide hockey our bodies in international locations reminiscent of England, India, New Zealand and even Scotland had collectively lobbied for inclusion.
“I do know I be a part of all our Commonwealth compatriots in saying we hope this can be a short-term adjustment to the Video games schedule,” Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles stated.
The Kookaburras stay unbeaten on the Commonwealth Video games, whereas the ladies’s staff, the Hockeyroos, have medalled at each occasion.
Scotstoun Stadium, which can host the athletics, can be the house of the Glasgow Warriors rugby union facet, which means there’s an current area for sevens rugby.
The Glasgow 26 organising committee cited “operational challenges” for not internet hosting any sports activities aside from monitor and area on the complicated.
“Because it was integrated into the Commonwealth Video games, rugby sevens has been one of many occasion’s hottest and fascinating codecs,” Rugby Australia stated in a press release.
“The Australian ladies’s staff had hoped to defend the Commonwealth Video games gold medal gained earlier than a packed stadium in Birmingham two years in the past and the boys’s facet, having simply achieved their finest end result at an Olympics in Paris this yr, had been equally assured of a powerful exhibiting in Glasgow.”
Why have sports activities been reduce from the Commonwealth Video games?
As a cost-saving measure, the ten sports activities will likely be unfold throughout simply 4 venues: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross Worldwide Swimming Centre, Emirates Enviornment (together with the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome) and the Scottish Occasion Campus.
That dictated which sports activities had been included, though sevens may very well be thought-about unfortunate given Scotstoun Stadium, which can host the athletics, can be dwelling of the Glasgow Warriors rugby union facet.
About half the variety of athletes who competed in Birmingham are set to be in Glasgow, with the decreased price contributing to the choice to chop weighty staff sports activities.
Cricket has been reduce from the Commonwealth Video games. Supply: AAP / Dave Hunt
Athletes and help workers will keep in lodge lodging relatively than an athletes’ village, whereas the occasion can have low-cost opening and shutting ceremonies.
In keeping with the Glasgow 2026 organising committee, the Video games “is about delivering a lighter and leaner programme of sports activities to make sure that we strike a stability between making certain the occasion has a high-quality multi-sport really feel however that may be delivered to the best degree in a brief timeframe on a funds which doesn’t depend on public funds to ship the Video games”.
Australia’s chef de mission Petria Thomas stated the expertise would nonetheless be memorable for the Australian staff, who topped the medal depend in Birmingham with 180, together with 67 gold.
“We knew the Video games had been headed to Glasgow, and we now know once they’ll be and the sports activities that can participate — it is an thrilling milestone in our preparations,” Thomas stated in a press release.
“We’re dedicated to an expertise for Australia’s staff that exceeds Birmingham, with no stone to be left unturned as we goal each efficiency and reminiscences that final a lifetime.”
The 2026 Commonwealth Video games will likely be held from 26 July to 2 August.
