The Commonwealth Games are “really important” and must continue beyond the scaled down 2026 event in Glasgow, Sir Keir Starmer has said.A slimmed down programme for the next Games was announced on Tuesday, but Sir Keir insisted the event will still be of great importance to the Scottish economy.
Only 10 sports will make up the programme of events due to financial constraints.Athletics and swimming are included as compulsory sports for 2026, while there will also be track cycling, gymnastics, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and 3×3 basketball.
There will be integrated para events in six of the sports – athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, bowls and basketball.Among the sports missing out compared to the 2022 Games in Birmingham are triathlon, diving, hockey, T20 cricket, squash, badminton and rugby sevens.
The Games are returning to Glasgow, which hosted the event in 2014, after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out due to rising costs.Asked whether the scaled down 2026 plans are a sign the Commonwealth Games should be called to an end, Sir Keir told reporters: “No.
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