2026 Commonwealth Games- Glasgow, Scotland are the new host.

[JDB]

I wonder if it will ever return to the Commonwealth Games.

 

[MaryClare]

I wonder if it will ever return to the Commonwealth Games.

I believe the reasoning behind its introduction was that it was a sport that was very underdeveloped across the commonwealth countries. This being the era before any significant immigration from Eastern Europe to English speaking commonwealth nations (and Cyprus. I’ve never been to Cyprus and not ran into someone I know from Moscow). So it was a chance to give opportunities to athletes who would never otherwise compete at major international competitions, let alone medal. Plus Canada had enough of a quality program that it wouldn’t appear completely basic.

I am intrigued as to why it was left out in 2002. There doesn’t seem to be any obvious reason and in the run up to 2006, there was a lot of excitement within the British RG community that it would be included in 2006. Particularly for those of us with a northern Irish parent!

Given the issues that the CWGs is facing, I can’t see it returning to a larger programme of sports, this trimmed down event is probably going to be the template if they attempt a 2030. Although with GB, Canada and Australia all having strong diving programmes, I can see there being pressure to reintroduce it

 

[Hatsumomo]

Although with GB, Canada and Australia all having strong diving programmes, I can see there being pressure to reintroduce it

I was going to say that Australia in particular might take umbrage at diving being cut. Especially since Melissa Wu is one of their star athletes.

 

[Bob]

I was going to say that Australia in particular might take umbrage at diving being cut. Especially since Melissa Wu is one of their star athletes.

Well they should have bloody held it then...........

 

[RAFIKI]

Seven countries in running for hosting future Commonwealth Games

Seven countries are interested in hosting the Commonwealth Games in either 2030 or 2034, in a boost to the beleaguered event

www.theguardian.com

We’ll see if these expressions of interest go anywhere.

 

[daniTS]

I wish Victoria would bid again. We still use the facilities from 1994 and have some new ones subsequently built since then. There was a bit of a movement to bid awhile ago but I don’t think the government at the time was on board. I remember Stella Umeh coming to train at my gym before the Games and how cool that was! She took pictures with all us little team girls

 

[RAFIKI]

Hard to imagine CWG not being on the Beeb:

A year to go but no UK broadcaster for Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Talks between the hosts and a number of broadcasters have been ongoing but no agreement has been reached.

www.bbc.co.uk

No broadcaster yet but they do have a mascot:

Glasgow Commonwealth Games mascot Finnie officially unveiled

A unicorn named Finnie with a traffic cone for a horn will be the official mascot at the 2026 games.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

The schedule is out, sort of.

Competition Schedule Download

Glasgow 2026

www.glasgow2026.com

AG begins on Friday 24th July and finishes on Tuesday 28th, as we anticipated. I don't think they've yet confirmed whether MAG or WAG will go first in team and AA. The second AA competition of the day doesn't start until 18.00, so hopefully some lessons were learned from the levels of exhaustion visible in WAGs last time.

This gives as much distance as possible between CWG gymnastics ending and Euros starting (WAG is from 13th August and MAG 19th) so doing both should be viable for the men especially.

 

[Puffin]

I loved the early subdivisions of the CWG last time around

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I loved the early subdivisions of the CWG last time around

Same! In many ways that's the best of CWG. Those athletes who no longer have the chance to attend worlds, and who would never have got to the Olympics anyway, having their opportunity to be recognised and supported at an international competition in a packed arena. It's so inclusive. That and the embedding of para sports as a matter of course are what CWG does so well.

I also just loved South Africa- their best of course do qualify for the major global events. But it's a treat to see them in a full team competition.

 

[OnlyBeansOnToast]

Hard to imagine CWG not being on the Beeb:

A year to go but no UK broadcaster for Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Talks between the hosts and a number of broadcasters have been ongoing but no agreement has been reached.

www.bbc.co.uk

No broadcaster yet but they do have a mascot:

Glasgow Commonwealth Games mascot Finnie officially unveiled

A unicorn named Finnie with a traffic cone for a horn will be the official mascot at the 2026 games.

www.bbc.co.uk

Well they have a broadcaster and... It's not Auntie. So viewing figures will so low as to deter any UK city from hosting in future.

BBC replaced by TNT Sports as Commonwealth Games live broadcaster

The subscription channel takes over from the BBC which had been the principal partner since 1954 and provided free-to-air coverage.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[RAFIKI]

This sucks

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Whose exceptionally shit idea was this?

 

[OnlyBeansOnToast]

Whose exceptionally shit idea was this?

"The BBC said it was "unable to match" TNT's bid to screen the games"

 

[OnlyBeansOnToast]

I mean it's absurd because precisely no-one is going to sign up for a year-long TNT subscription in order to watch the CWG. And the people who have it already for the football are... let's say "unlikely" to be excited by the prospect of netball, track cycling, WAG and bowls.

 

[Gymfan93]

Apparently it's going to be streamed via HBO Max (due to launch in the UK in March). No idea how much it will cost per month, hopefully it will offer a free trial or something.

 

[KristyJ]

Apparently it's going to be streamed via HBO Max (due to launch in the UK in March). No idea how much it will cost per month, hopefully it will offer a free trial or something.

Huh, I wonder if this will make it more viewable in the US without having to VPN and grab another sub

 

[MaryClare]

Huh, I wonder if this will make it more viewable in the US without having to VPN and grab another sub

UK HBO is not the same as US HBO

 

[MaryClare]

This sucks

It really does. The cwg is already struggling and I fear that the departure from free to view TV in the UK will be the nail in the coffin.

Will the bbc still show some, like it does with the Olympics?

 

[Gymfan93]

It really does. The cwg is already struggling and I fear that the departure from free to view TV in the UK will be the nail in the coffin.

Will the bbc still show some, like it does with the Olympics?

They'll probably show some of the finals. I liked the red button coverage a lot last time. They showed all the qualifications and the commentary was actually decent (I can only assume that they knew only gymnastics fans would be watching sub 1 so didn't dumb it down).