Scotland has come to the rescue of the Commonwealth Games, offering to host the event in 2026, but it will be a stripped-down version funded by Australians.
The multi-sport event has been looking for a home after the government of Victoria pulled out in 2023 citing spiralling costs that it said had blown the budget out to $6 billion.
As a consequence Victoria had to pay $380 million in compensation to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), $200 million of which will now be directed to Scotland to cover their hosting costs.
That is to be topped up by $4.5 million from Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) to cover security with neither the UK nor Scottish governments prepared to use public money – though the former is said to be prepared to underwrite any additional security costs.
In a response to a written question lodged at the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Health and Sport Minister Neil Gray said: “The Scottish Government has conducted a thorough assessment of Commonwealth Games Scotland’s proposal for Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“That assessment has been conducted alongside Commonwealth Games Scotland, the Commonwealth Games Federation, Glasgow City Council, the UK Government and, most recently, Commonwealth Games Australia.
“The collaboration has been extremely positive and productive and has resulted in the finalisation of a strong event proposal that will help to support a new future for the Commonwealth Games and deliver economic and sporting opportunity for Scotland.
“On that basis, I have written to the Commonwealth Games Scotland today to inform them that the Scottish Government will give its support for the proposal.”
CGF president Chris Jenkins said it would work closely with Commonwealth Games Scotland to formally announce Glasgow as the host city as soon a possible.
He said: “We believe Glasgow 2026 will be an important first step in our commitment to reset and reframe the Commonwealth Games as a co-created, sustainable model that minimises costs, inspires athletes, and excites hosts and International federations.”
He confirmed that CGA had contributed £2.3 million ($A4.5 million) to “enhance the event”.
The BBC reported the pared-back Games will feature 10 sports in four Glasgow venues. When the city last hosted the Games, in 2014, there were 17 sports and the event cost was £543 million.
There were 19 sports and nearly double that budget at Birmingham in 2022.
The 2026 event will have low-cost opening and closing ceremonies and no athlete’s village. It is not clear which events will be cut but athletics and swimming will survive with venues already earmarked.
It will be the second successive Commonwealth Games to be salvaged by a British city, with Birmingham staging the 2022 event after the South African city of Durban was stripped of the event amid financial problems and missed deadlines.