The Commonwealth Games escaped extinction but major change is required for salvation
Glasgow might have saved the Commonwealth Games, but dont expect to see them back on these shores for a generation.Four of the last seven editions have been staged in Great Britain, and its clear that Commonwealth Sport realises it needs to cut ties to the mother country for its future relevance.Scotland gets its eternal thanks for stepping in at just 18 months notice when Australia said it couldnt afford to host. Australian taxpayers ended up paying Glasgow 100m in compensation to stage the Games on their behalf and then duly topped the medal table with 70 golds.Glasgow has acted as a bridge to the future of the Commonwealth Games movement, said Commonwealth Sport president Dr Donald Rukare.Every host writes its own chapter, and Glasgows has been one of bravery, courage, friendship and, above all, outstanding innovation.Indiawill host the centenary Games in 2030, and there are four private expressions of interest for 2034, with sports ministers having been wined and dined in Glasgows most expensive spots in recent days.The baton has passed to India for the next Commonwealth Games (Getty)Nigeria has made no secret of its desire to become the first African host, while New Zealand believes a lower-cost approach to hosting finally gives it a chance to welcome the Commonwealth for the first time since 1990. Canada hasnt hosted since 1994 either.Insiders admit there is more chance of the Olympics coming back to the UK with a bid mooted for the 2040s before another Commonwealth Games.For years, officials presented hosts with a long list of demands and requirements. Glasgow has changed all that. The power has shifted and thats arguably no bad thing.Its a much more collaborative process," said Commonwealth Sport chief executive Katie Sadlier."Were not telling hosts, This is what you must do. Instead, were asking, What are you trying to achieve? and then working with them to make that happen.Weve set a guideline of around 15 to 17 sports, but if a future host comes to us with a proposal they believe works for them, well sit down and work through it together. Were not imposing rigid targets.We dont want countries building facilities they dont actually need just to host the Games. If a nation genuinely wants to build a stadium because it fits its long-term plans, thats fine, but it shouldnt automatically become part of the Games budget.We dont want hosts spending huge amounts of money on things we dont think are necessary any more. Glasgow is using existing venues, stakeholders have accepted reduced service levels, there are no fleets of VIP cars, and people are travelling by bus. Everyone has embraced that because they wanted the Commonwealth Games to happen.Josh Kerr provided one of the moments of the Games (PA Wire)But the Commonwealth movement can see the Games shifting away from the UK, a feeling reinforced by the BBCs decision not to broadcast them free-to-air for the first time since 1954.The next Games in India will feature 50 per cent more sports, but many at Commonwealth Sport still carry the scars of the Games in Delhi 16 years ago, which were so mired in corruption and incompetence there was a real chance, just days before they began, that they wouldnt happen.India, which currently leads the world in anti-doping violations, won 13 golds to finish fourth in the medal table here and is expected to stack the sports programme to its athletes advantage.Archery, badminton, hockey, shooting and squash are all expected to return. Kabaddi, which gets an audience of over 200 million on Indian television, is making its case too. There have even been reports of competitive yoga.There will be a discussion around which indigenous sports we want to showcase, said Raghu Iyer, chief executive of the Indian Olympic Association.When it comes to cricket we need to have discussions with the ICC because October is a very busy period of the season. Its part of the Olympics now and wed like it at the Games.The Commonwealth Games came to a spectacular end (PA)A final decision on the sports programme for 2030 is expected to be announced early next year at Commonwealth Sports annual general meeting.To borrow an oft-quoted phrase, reports of the death of the Commonwealth Games have long been greatly exaggerated. But they have never come closer to extinction than when Victoria announced, just two years out, that it no longer wanted to host them.This sporting alliance of nations, forged from the pink bits of a long-yellowing world order, has never been more precarious. But the Games survived; the decisions that come next will determine whether they thrive.Fewer sports but no less passion. Different, but not necessarily worse. Comparisons in sport are always difficult but Glasgow 2026 offered a blueprint for future hosts, showing the Commies can still work when budgets dont.And they delivered sporting moments too Josh Kerrs mile gold, Jamaicas Sunshine Girls stunning Australia in netball, Dolphins domination at the pool, a buzzer-beater in the basketball and the undiluted courage of Archie Goodburn. And bowls, just so much bowls.Simple Minds headlined the closing ceremony in Glasgow (PA Wire)When organisers booked Simple Minds for the closing ceremony, perhaps they knew something we didnt.Alive? Yes. Kicking? Not quite. The Games escaped extinction in Glasgow. Their next chapter will reveal whether survival was merely enough, or the start of renewal.Thanks to National Lottery players, more than 33m is raised every week for good causes. Its because of you that sport, arts, heritage and community projects, as well as our athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, are supported across the UKSportsbeat
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