The Commonwealth Mile is a tribute to Roger Bannister and John Landy’s duel over the gap on the 1954 Video games in Vancouver
Organisers of the 2026 Commonwealth Video games have introduced the mile will exchange the 1500m in Glasgow.
The Commonwealth Mile, which can see athletes racing over the gap on the Video games for the primary time in 60 years, is a tribute to Roger Bannister and John Landy’s fearsome battle over roughly 4 laps in 1954.
Dubbed “The Miracle Mile”, Bannister and Landy clocked 3:58.8 and three:59.6 respectively on the then British Empire and Commonwealth Video games – the primary time that two males had ever damaged the four-minute barrier in the identical race.
The pulsating contest, watched by 35,000 folks in Vancouver, passed off simply three months after Bannister grew to become the primary particular person in historical past to report a sub-four-minute mile, at Oxford’s Iffley Street.
Landy subsequently lowered the world report to three:58.0, that means their showdown in Canada grew to become one of the anticipated occasions of that whole Video games.
Roger Bannister (Getty)
A sculpture of the race-deciding second, with barely something separating Bannister and Landy on the end line, was later positioned exterior the Empire Stadium in reminiscence of the duel.
The mile lasted till the 1966 Video games in Jamaica, earlier than it was changed with the 1500m on the 1970 version in Edinburgh.
Ladies by no means received the chance to compete within the mile on the Video games – their longest race in 1954 was the 220 yard dash – and the primary official ladies’s mile report was the 4:37.0 set by Anne Smith in 1967.
“The mile is the quintessential Commonwealth athletics occasion whose return I very a lot welcome,” mentioned World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who recommended the occasion to Glasgow organisers.
“From 1930 by way of to 1966, the mile was the blue-riband occasion of every Video games and the magic of the mile continues to resonate. A ticket to observe its Commonwealth remaining will likely be one of many must-have seats in Glasgow subsequent yr.”
Seb Coe (Getty)
In addition to the introduction of the mile, the blended 4x400m – the occasion has already appeared at each the Olympics and world championships – will make its debut on the Commonwealth Video games.
Para Athletics will even see athletes competing in leaping, throwing and observe occasions, with all three disciplines being included on the programme for the primary time in Video games historical past.
“This compelling medal occasion programme continues the purple thread of innovation that may be a key element of Glasgow 2026’s compelling idea – when it comes to sports activities codecs and disciplines, the compact variety of sports activities, and concentrated variety of present venues,” mentioned Chief Govt of the Commonwealth Video games Federation, Katie Sadleir.
“We’re thrilled to see such an thrilling medal programme for the Commonwealth Video games that may make sure you delight and excite followers attending in-person or watching at residence throughout every day of competitors.
“With extra para sport medals than ever earlier than within the Video games, Glasgow 2026 guarantees to be a really inclusive pageant of sport and celebration of tradition and variety that evokes our athletes.”
Olivia Breen (Mark Shearman)
Males’s occasions:
100m; 200m; 400m; 800m; mile; 5000m; 10,000m; 3000m steeplechase; 110m hurdles; 400m hurdles; excessive soar; pole vault; lengthy soar; triple soar; shot put; discus throw; hammer throw; javelin throw; 10,000m race stroll; decathlon; 4 x 100m relay
Ladies’s occasions:
100m; 200m; 400m; 800m; mile; 5000m; 10,000m; 3000m steeplechase; 100m hurdles; 400m hurdles; excessive soar; pole vault; lengthy soar; triple soar; shot put; discus throw; hammer throw; javelin throw; 10,000m race stroll; heptathlon; 4 x 100m relay
Combined occasions:
4x400m relay
Males’s para occasions:
T12 100m; T38 100m; T47 100m; T20 1500m; T54 1500m; F42-44/F61-64 discus throw; F57 shot put; T20 lengthy soar
Ladies’s para occasions:
T38 100m; T47 100m; T38 200m; T54 400m; T54 1500m; F42-44/F61-64 discus throw; F57 shot put; T38 lengthy soar
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