Commonwealth Games could provide boost for Glasgow but ‘must come at no cost’

Plans to bring the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow have been given a cautious welcome by residents – as long as there is no cost to the city.

The idea of hosting the games in Glasgow has been put forward as a ‘back-up’ plan, with organisers struggling to attract bids to host the event after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out in July over concerns about the cost.

Glasgow could host a scaled-back event if no host is found, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) has said, adding it could provide a solution “without the need for significant public investment”.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has said it will provide £100 million for the chosen host nation, while the remaining budget will be funded by ticket sales and broadcasting rights, CGS said.

The plan would include a core programme of 10 to 13 sports, which is down from 20 at the 2022 event, and would use “existing sporting venues and accommodation options”.

Councillors in Glasgow were playing their cards close to the chest on whether they would welcome the games back, with the city facing a raft of challenges.

Both the city’s SNP and Labour groups chose not to comment on the proposal at this time, while a council spokesman said the city was providing advice to CGS.

Glasgow Greens said any bid should come at no cost to the council, which faces a £107m budget gap over the next three years.

The council spokesman said: “At this stage there is no Glasgow bid. This is a Commonwealth Games Scotland proposal and the city, as an experienced events host, is providing support and technical advice as they assess what might be possible within the budget available from the Commonwealth Games Federation.”

Cllr Jon Molyneux, Glasgow Greens co-leader, said: “We’ve not yet seen any proposal to host the Games. Clearly Glasgow has what it takes to make a success of major global events, as we did when we hosted the Games in 2014.

“Any bid would need to be at no cost to the council — indeed if it were to happen, the Games should be used to bring extra investment in the city, including by using new tourist tax powers.

“Greens would also need clear assurances around the commitment of all participating nations to equalities and human rights, in particular LGBTQ+ rights.”

Residents asked how they would feel about the return of the games were a little more positive – if not exactly enthusiastic.

In a rainy George Square, Jimmy Patterson, 84, of Cathcart, said: “I think it would be okay, it was good when it was last here. A lot of people got a lot out of it.

“It brings Glasgow to the map.

“They made good use of Hampden, which is pretty underused. Quite a few of my friends in the Scouts, young people and older ones as well, were part of the team there, the helpers.”

Billy Wright, 82, with his wife Jean, said the Commonwealth Games could be good for businesses in the city (Image: Supplied)

Billy Wright, 82, who lives in East Kilbride, said: “I would say it was always good for industry and for business, to bring people into the city.

“I think if the world can get together a wee bit more, it might be a safer place.”

Jim McMillan, 70, said the Commonwealth Games would be great but Glasgow needs a clean up (Image: Supplied)

Jim McMillan, 70, originally from Glasgow but now living in Aberdeen, said the event “would be great” but the city needs a “clean up”.

“They need to sort Glasgow out,” he said. “We were originally from Glasgow and we went to Aberdeen many years ago, but this crowd that’s running it has not one clue. Holyrood has not one clue.

“It would be great, it would be great for the city. I’d be concerned if they could organise it.”

Mr McMillan said he could remember the last Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988, which had been good for the city.

However, he added the council needs more funding to “clean up the place, sort out the roads, make it nice”. “We’ve just come back from three weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia, we drove for six hours one day and not one pothole. You come here, you go 300 yards.”

Doug Bostock, 75, a tourist visiting from Stratford, said: “We had the Olympic Games and it was good. I’m a Londoner. It was good for them so it should be [good for Glasgow].”