Glasgow is set to welcome the world for the Commonwealth Games, which will take place from 22 July to 2 August. The games will feature athletes from 74 countries and territories competing in 215 gold medal events, including a record 47 para-sports events. This marks a scaled-back version of the games, with Scotstoun Stadium hosting the majority of events in front of 11,000 spectators.
The games were originally scheduled to be hosted by Victoria, Australia, but the state government pulled out in 2023 due to a significant budget blowout, which soared from an estimated A$2.6 billion to over A$6 billion. Glasgow stepped in to host the games, with the Scottish government backing the deal.
The games will be staged across four venues in Glasgow, with the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) serving as the main hub. The games will feature a range of popular sports, including athletics, cycling, and swimming, with tickets still available for many events. The CGF is investing £100m in the games, with the remainder coming from commercial revenue streams.
Among the notable athletes competing in the games is Elaine Thompson-Herah, a Jamaican sprinter aiming to defend her titles in the 100m and 200m events. Other big names include Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse and Scotland's Eilish McColgan, who will be looking to retain her Commonwealth title in the 10,000m event.
The games will officially open with a ceremony at the Hydro, attended by dignitaries including Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney. The games will run for 10 days, with the closing ceremony scheduled to take place on 2 August.