The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be scaled down to include only 10 sports, eliminating a number of well-known sports.
On Tuesday, event organisers announced the program for the 2026 Games, which will take place in Scotland from July 23 to August 2.
The list of sports will exclude cricket, badminton, hockey, wrestling, diving, beach volleyball, road cycling, mountain biking, rhythmic gymnastics, rugby sevens, squash, table tennis, para table tennis, triathlon and para triathlon, shooting, all of which were part of the 2022 Birmingham Games.
In 2026, Glasgow will feature athletics and para athletics, swimming and para swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling and para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and para powerlifting, boxing, judo, lawn bowls and para bowls, along with 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball.
Field hockey had been a staple of the Games since Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
Hockey’s probable omission could also be down to the fact that the Games are being organised close to the World Cup that is scheduled two weeks later from August 15 to 30 in Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands.
Hockey’s exclusion from the Games is a major blow for India as their men’s team is a three-time silver-winner and two-time bronze-medallist. The women have won three medals, including a gold in the 2000 edition.
Two other major sports — shooting and wrestling — in which India have had medal hauls in the past editions have also been dropped, which will deal a big blow to the country’s hopes.
Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) had said in their proposal that all the competitions would be held at venues within an eight-mile-radius.
That will rule shooting out of the sports roster as the Barry Buddon centre in Dundee — the venue during the 2014 CWG — is more than a 100km away from Glasgow.
After Victoria, Australia withdrew its commitment to host the event, Glasgow, which previously hosted the Games in 2014, agreed to step in.
Organisers have indicated that the need for a financially sustainable event developed within a short timeframe was a significant factor in the decision to streamline the program.
“Our aim was to create a Games that was different,” said Jon Doig, CEO of Commonwealth Games Scotland. “Glasgow 2026 will still deliver all the excitement, passion, and joy that the Commonwealth Games are known for, albeit in a more compact format than past editions.”
The future of the Commonwealth Games came into question in July 2023 when former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews dropped out from hosting the event due to financial concerns. Glasgow then expressed its desire to host a more simplified version of the Games.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said Glasgow 2026 will deliver more than £100 million ($130 million) of inward investment into the city and is projected to support over £150 million of economic value added for the region.
“On behalf of the entire Commonwealth sport movement, we are delighted to officially confirm that the 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place in the host city of Glasgow,” said CGF chief executive Katie Sadleir.
Britain and Australia have staged five of the last six editions between them but Sadleir believes a slimmed down model will increase the potential pool of future hosts.
“The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow,” added Sadleir.
“An exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact – in doing so increasing the scope of countries capable of hosting.
Sports at 2026 Commonwealth Games: Athletics and para athletics (track and field), swimming and para swimming, artistic gymnastics, track Cycling and para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and para powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and para bowls, as well as 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball.