Hockey, diving and cricket are among the sports that have been axed from the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Only 10 sports have been included in the simplified programme, half as many as Birmingham 2022, after Glasgow agreed to step in while the hosts’ costs were kept to a minimum.
Athletics, boxing, bowling, cycling, gymnastics, judo, netball, swimming, weightlifting and 3×3 basketball are on the 2026 calendar, and six of them will include fully integrated Paralympic competitions.
Only four venues will be used: the Emirates Arena, Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Center and the Scottish Event Campus.
There will be an opening and closing ceremony but there will be no marathon or road cycling race. The other sports that have been completely eliminated are badminton, beach volleyball, rugby sevens, squash, table tennis, triathlon and wrestling.
Glasgow will host the 23rd Commonwealth Games as the event returns to the city 12 years after hosting the Games in 2014.
Ten popular sports have been removed from the Commonwealth Games for 2026
Team hockey has also been phased out as event organizers rationalize sports offerings.
Glasgow last held the Games in 2014 but offered to do so again after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out last year due to rising costs.
The budget for the reduced 2026 event is just £114m, well below the £543m spent in 2014, of which around £100m comes from compensation paid by Victoria to the Commonwealth Games Federation .
Of the 10 sports that have been eliminated, the omission of hockey is the most controversial, as a national hockey center was built in Glasgow for the 2014 Games. Hockey has been included in every event since 1998, and women of England won their first gold in Birmingham two years ago.
An England Hockey spokesperson told Mail Sport: “We are disappointed that hockey will not be included in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, a decision that overlooks a sport with a proud history and strong presence in the nations of the Commonwealth.
‘We have a long history of success at the Commonwealth Games and know that our athletes have loved being part of their home countries’ teams. We will miss being part of the action, but we understand that difficult decisions need to be made.
“We remain hopeful and confident that future organizers will restore hockey to the Games, where it has long thrived and inspired.”
Explaining why hockey has been removed, Scottish Commonwealth Games president Ian Reid said: “Hockey would be an extra venue and a large number of athletes we would have to accommodate.”
“You can imagine the balance we are trying to balance, between trying to use the minimum number of venues to keep costs down, taking into account the success of the home countries and the number of athletes.”
Organizers have decided to scrap the popular rugby sevens as part of a scaled-down event.
A total of 3,000 athletes from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories are expected to attend Glasgow 2026, almost 2,000 fewer than Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022.
“When we started developing this concept just under a year ago, our goal was to create a Games that was different, that could be delivered at the highest quality, in the short term and in a financially sustainable way,” said Jon Doig. , chief executive of the Scottish Commonwealth Games.
“Glasgow 2026 will have all the drama, passion and joy we know the Commonwealth Games offer, even if it will be lighter and more agile than some previous editions.”
CGF chief executive Katie Sadleir added: “With the reassuring legacy of Glasgow 2014, providing the existing sporting, transport and accommodation infrastructure, as well as world-class facilities and experience, we look forward to working with the Glasgow team to deliver a very special Commonwealth Games in 2026.” .’
