The Commonwealth Games recently announced that the upcoming 2026 Games in Glasgow will feature only ten sports, as opposed to the nineteen featured at the last Games in Birmingham. This article will explore whether this signals a struggle to keep the event up and running—can the Commonwealth Games adapt to modern sensibilities and financial burdens, or is their future limited?
The Commonwealth Games were first held in 1930 as the ‘British Empire Games’, with the intention of celebrating unity amongst former British colonies, but in the light of today’s economic and political climate, the relevance of the Commonwealth Games is being increasingly challenged.
The Games were created to foster goodwill among Britain and its colonies, but it also underscored its influence over its former colonies. The rebranding of the Games is the best example of this; they were called the British Empire Games for twenty years (1930-1950), the British Empire and Commonwealth Games for twelve years, and then the British Commonwealth Games for four years after that. The event’s current name has stayed the same since 1978, once organisers decided to remove the word ‘British’ from its title—perhaps to reduce the colonial undertones of the event. This change reflects a purposeful move away from colonial branding, especially as Commonwealth ties are prioritised less politically.
Another reason to doubt the future of the Games is the financial strain it places on host cities and nations, often taken on by taxpayers. From infrastructure to security and event management, the financial demands of hosting the Games are escalating. The most recent example of this is the next Games! The original plans were to host the 2026 Games in the Australian state of Victoria, but organisers had to pull out due to the financial burden (well over their budget of $2.6billion, or £1.3billion), and it’s the same case for the 2030 Games, which were intended to be in the Canadian province of Alberta, until organisers pulled out for similar reasons. The planned slimmed-down format for the 2026 Games in Glasgow also demonstrates the need for host cities to reduce commitments due to the financial burden.
It could be hard for organisers of the Commonwealth Games to maintain their appeal and relevance. Many member countries are seeking greater independence from the UK’s cultural and political influence, with Barbados being the latest to become a republic, only three years ago. The Games are also less significant in terms of their prestige when compared to other international sporting competitions—for example, the Olympic Games. If the Commonwealth and Olympic Games occur every four years, then do both really need to exist? There is definitely a perception that the Commonwealth Games are less competitive, which has led to declining interest from broadcasters and sponsors.
Do the Games have a future? There are certainly some cost-effective solutions to reduce a host’s financial burden, many of which are being used currently. Glasgow 2026 is slimming down the format, and has reduced the number of sports from nineteen (as seen in 2022 in Birmingham) to only ten, in an effort to make the Games more sustainable and affordable. Popular sports like badminton or hockey are missing out, but it would help to attract cities that would otherwise struggle to bear higher costs. A rotation model may also help: Commonwealth countries with existing infrastructure could take turns hosting in order to minimise the need for new stadia, arenas, etc,. In a less tangible sense, the Commonwealth Games could consciously shift the undertones of the event, and frame it as a celebration of sport and diversity, rather than a remnant of British imperialism. If organisers wanted to revitalise the Games, they could think more about member nations, and sports that are popular in those countries. Esports or urban sports could also be a consideration.
In conclusion, the Games face many hurdles ahead of them, as attempts to prove their relevance remain. With the withdrawal of host cities for the next two competitions, the Games are at a crossroads. Can they reinvent themselves to become economically viable and culturally relevant? Or will they become obsolete?