With its most notable point of difference being that it’s going to be a much smaller event than its modern-day predecessors, how do the organisers of next year’s Commonwealth Games still make a big noise about the whole thing?

The answer appears to lie in wringing every last drop out of the hand that they’ve been dealt. Only 10 sports will feature at Glasgow 2026 but within those restrictions there are still ways to maximise the potential of and excitement around next summer’s jamboree.

More details of what that will look like emerged this morning when it was announced that there will be 200 medals up for grabs across 10 days of competition, with para-sport, swimming and track cycling all set for the most extensive medal event programmes in their respective Commonwealth Games history.

Comparisons are always going to be made with the roaring triumph that was the 2014 Games but, although it’s not a phrase you’d want to utter too loudly in certain corners of Glasgow, the hope is that this stripped-back boutique follow-up can still deliver its own success stories.

“The hardest decision was choosing the sports in the first place,” says Ian Reid, vice-chair of the Games, speaking from inside the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome that will host 26 medal events across para and non-para disciplines.

“I think what we've tried to now do with those 10 sports has been to be really ambitious about the events that are included within those sports. So, despite having a smaller number, we've still got some incredible highlights from each event.

“It’s the biggest para sport programme ever seen, we've got a really wide range of events and some new innovative ones in athletics and an enlarged 3x3 basketball programme. So I think with the sports we've got, we've got a really exciting offering for spectators and TV viewers.”

One of the keys behind the success of Glasgow 2014 was the feelgood factor that engulfed the entire city and beyond, stretching beyond the hosting venues themselves.

With no free open-air events next summer like the ever-popular cycling road races, organisers will have a tougher job trying to cultivate wider engagement but conversations around that are already underway.

“The Commonwealth Games is always about more than just sport as so we'll look to put on, whether it's fan zones or other attractions, to make sure people can engage with the Games if they aren't buying tickets,” added Reid. “But we're looking closely over the next few months about what the ticketing programme looks like so we can get the right balance of meeting our commercial targets but also some events being very accessible and affordable.

“We're still working closely with the city on early plans for other events so there's still detail to be worked through. But we need to put an offering together so that there's wider engagement opportunities rather than just within the venues.”

Until Glasgow stepped in with this rescue package it looked the Commonwealth Games as an institution was destined to become consigned to the dustbin of history.

There is undoubtedly a risk in electing to keep this ailing patient alive but Reid says interest from overseas nations in visiting Glasgow next year has already been positive.

“With these big projects, you start with theory and kind of cross your fingers a little bit. But it's definitely coming together and the more we talk about it, the more we get feedback from international federations. And the competing countries are really buying into the concept.

“Our team have spoken to all 74 competing nations. They've obviously read some of the newspaper reports through the bidding stage but now it’s being brought to life for them with some more detail and all the feedback's been really positive despite the shorter planning timelines.

“They're all very confident in terms of what we can deliver. A lot of them have obviously been to the city before in 2014 so it's landed really well. There’s no indication that we're not going to get the best athletes from across the Commonwealth here which is good to hear.

“The amount of work that's going on and the excitement that I'm sure will start to be generated over the next few months as some of these bigger milestones get hit as well - it's all really starting to come together.”