Glasgow is proud to host the Commonwealth Games, a sporting event underpinned by the values of humanity, equality and inclusion

From the 23rd of July to the 2nd of August, Glasgow will host the 23rd Commonwealth Games. The city will welcome some three thousand athletes from seventy-four nations and territories across the Commonwealth. They will compete in ten sports and six para-sports.

Glasgow will become only the third city in history to host the Games twice, the previous time being the extremely successful 2014 Games. This is a source of great pride to the city but was not the original plan for these Games. When the Australian state of Victoria withdrew from hosting the Games, Glasgow stepped in to ensure that they could still take place. In doing so, there was a recognition that Glasgow 2026 must be different. The concept needed to be refreshed and to become more sustainable– reducing the cost whilst continuing to highlight top class sport and providing athletes the opportunity to compete at world class level, whilst still benefitting the host city, and inspiring people across the Commonwealth to take up sport.

In taking on this challenge, Glasgow 2026 Ltd, the organising company established to stage the event in partnership with Commonwealth Sport and Commonwealth Games Scotland, set out an innovative approach through their ‘Story of Change’, focusing on four key areas. First, it seeks to deliver a greener Games, demonstrating that major events can reduce waste and carbon emissions. As part of this agenda, Glasgow 2026 will rely on the legacy of the 2014 Games by using four pre-existing venues to host events.

Secondly, Glasgow 2026 will ensure that the Games are inclusive. With 47 para-sport events, this Games will be the largest integrated para-sport programme in Commonwealth history. In fact, the first medal of Glasgow 2026 will be awarded in para powerlifting, marking the first time a para-sport event has opened the medal tally at a Games.

Thirdly, these Games will provide a wider opportunity to bring people from across Scotland and the Commonwealth together. This is embodied by the Glasgow 2026 Festival, an exciting ten-week, city-wide initiative comprising over one-hundred and fifty free events, ranging from art exhibitions and cultural events, to sporting activities and workshops.

Finally, Glasgow 2026 seeks to demonstrate that this new model can still support local economies, tourism, and community development. Hopefully, the slimmed down model will ensure the continued viability of such a special event, while still providing an exciting and diverse programme of sport.

Tribute must be paid to all the individuals whose hard work has made this Games possible, and to the three-thousand volunteers, known as the Glasgow Legends. These volunteers will be an integral part of the Games and will demonstrate that people really do make Glasgow.

Glasgow 2026 plans to build a legacy that runs deeper than building new sporting facilities, an important part of the legacy of Glasgow 2014. The Commonwealth Sport Foundation, the official charity partner of the Games, has pledged that all funds raised through Glasgow 2026 will be shared equally between funding sport for development initiatives in the Commonwealth and supporting three city partners in Glasgow: Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Scottish Sports Futures, and Team Scotland Youth Trust. This will ensure the true legacy of the Games – inspiring people to take up sport – can be supported going forward.

While hosting such a major sporting event is an exciting opportunity for Glasgow, concerns have rightly been raised by residents and businesses about the impact of possible disruptions. I am pleased that Glasgow 2026 Ltd has been engaging with community councils and residents to understand such concerns and are seeking to minimise disruption as far as possible. Measures including an events permit zone, defined drop-off and pick-up locations, and guidance on local public transport routes will be implemented to mitigate parking concerns.

Ultimately, the Commonwealth Games is both a fantastic sporting event and a larger community underpinned by values of humanity, equality and inclusion. It is a privilege for Glasgow to host this world-class event and in turn, visitors and athletes will get to experience Glasgow at its best – a friendly, vibrant city, capable of delivering major events.