SNSGlasgow is to host the 2026 Commonwealth Video games after a deal was backed by the Scottish authorities.
A scaled-down model of the occasion, that includes fewer sports activities and athletes, will return to the town 12 years after it final hosted the Video games.
The Australian state of Victoria was initially chosen to stage the multi-sport occasion however withdrew as host as a result of rising prices.
Australian authorities have promised “a multi-million pound funding” to assist finalise the deal.
Well being and Sport Minister Neil Grey held talks with Commonwealth Video games Australia yesterday to debate funding, and acquired the assurances the Scottish authorities have been in search of.
It has now written to the Commonwealth Video games Federation (CGF) to formally again a stripped-back occasion which is able to see see 10 sports activities happen throughout 4 venues within the metropolis, with athletics held at Scotstoun Stadium and swimming going down at Tollcross.
SNSA closing resolution was taken at a cupboard assembly on Tuesday morning.
It’s understood the Video games will come for gratis to the general public purse, with funding coming from compensation paid to the CGF after the Australians pulled out.
The UK authorities will present monetary help within the occasion of any elevated safety risk however had refused to fully underwrite the Video games.
Grey had beforehand insisted that there was “a repute danger in addition to monetary danger” for Scotland in taking over internet hosting duties once more, and that no public funds could possibly be used.
The full finances for the Video games is anticipated to be about £114m.
Glasgow final hosted the Video games in 2014 at a value of £543m, with 17 sports activities going down in an occasion praised by organisers as one of the best ever.
The 2026 model shall be a extra modest affair, however it it isn’t but clear which sports activities shall be lower.
There shall be no athlete’s village and any opening and shutting ceremonies are anticipated to be scaled again.
Battle to seek out hosts
The Commonwealth Video games Federation (CGF) has struggled to seek out hosts for the occasion lately.
Durban was imagined to be the primary metropolis in Africa to stage the Video games in 2022, however have been stripped of internet hosting rights in 2017 after working into cash troubles.
Birmingham and the British authorities intervened to avoid wasting the occasion, stumping up a mixed $1bn for what turned one of the best attended Video games on file.
Victoria then dropped out in July 2023 after the projected value for the occasion turned “properly and actually an excessive amount of” for the state to bear, whereas different attainable hosts reminiscent of Malaysia and Singapore declined to step in.
The 12-day competitors was anticipated to value greater than A$6 bn (£3.13bn; $4.09bn).