Key points
- Sports such as hockey, rugby sevens and cricket are not included in the 2026 Commonwealth Games programme.
- Diving, badminton, squash and table tennis have also been left out, with only 10 events remaining.
- The sports were scrapped as a cost-saving measure after the Games were moved from Victoria to Scotland.
Hockey, rugby sevens and cricket are among the major casualties of the Commonwealth Games, which were dropped from the cutback Glasgow program in 2026.
Next year’s Games, which have been moved to Scotland as host following Victoria’s withdrawal, will feature just 10 events, nine fewer than the previous edition held in Birmingham in 2022.
Other sports not taken into account are diving, badminton, beach volleyball, mountain biking, rhythmic gymnastics, squash and table tennis.
Athletics and swimming were the only sports guaranteed a place on the programme, which also includes track cycling, weightlifting, 3×3 basketball and bocce – all of which include a para equivalent.
Netball, artistic gymnastics, judo and boxing round out the chosen 10.
Squash Australia boss Robert Donaghue said the news was heartbreaking for the country’s top players, who would use the Games to prepare for the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
“Today’s announcement is a blow to the players whose dream of competing in the Commonwealth Games has been stolen,” he said.
“With Rachael Grinham carrying the flag at the opening ceremony in 2022 and Australia contributing 11 gold medals and 33 medals in total since 1998, Australia has achieved great success in a sport that has been part of the fabric of the Commonwealth Games for a quarter of a century . .”
Hockey Australia was similarly disappointed to see it dropped, given the strength of the Commonwealth countries in the sport and the existence of the 2014 venue.
National hockey organizations in countries such as England, India, New Zealand and even Scotland had collectively lobbied for inclusion.
“I know I join all our Commonwealth compatriots in saying that we hope this is a temporary adjustment to the schedule,” Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles said.
The Kookaburras remain undefeated at the Commonwealth Games, while the women’s team, the Hockeyroos, have medaled at every event.
The Scotstoun Stadium, where the athletics will take place, is also the home of the Glasgow Warriors rugby union club, meaning there is an existing field for sevens rugby.
The Glasgow 26 organizing committee cited “operational challenges” as no sports other than athletics were organized at the complex.
“Since its inclusion in the Commonwealth Games, rugby sevens has been one of the event’s most popular and engaging formats,” Rugby Australia said in a statement.
“The Australian women’s team had hoped to defend the Commonwealth Games gold medal they won in front of a packed stadium in Birmingham two years ago, and the men’s team, having just achieved their best result at this year’s Paris Olympics, was just as confident in a strong performance. in Glasgow.”
Why are sports excluded from the Commonwealth Games?
As a cost-saving measure, the 10 sports will be spread across just four locations: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena (including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome) and the Scottish Event Campus.
That determined which sports were included, although sevens could be considered unlucky as the Scotstoun Stadium, where the athletics will take place, is also the home of the Glasgow Warriors rugby union.
Around half the number of athletes who competed in Birmingham will be in Glasgow, with lower costs contributing to the decision to scrap tough team sports.
Cricket has been dropped from the Commonwealth Games. Source: MONKEY / Dave Hunt
Athletes and support staff will stay in hotel accommodations rather than an athletes’ village, while the event will have low-cost opening and closing ceremonies.
According to the Glasgow 2026 Organizing Committee, the Games are “about delivering a lighter and leaner sporting program to ensure we strike a balance between ensuring the event has a high quality multi-sport feel but can be delivered at the highest level in a short period of time with a budget that is not dependent on public resources to realize the Games.”
Australian chef de mission Petria Thomas said the experience would still be memorable for the Australian team, who topped the medal list in Birmingham with 180, including 67 gold.
“We knew the Games would come to Glasgow, and we now know when they will take place and which sports will take part – it is an exciting milestone in our preparations,” Thomas said in a statement.
“We are committed to an experience for the Australian team that surpasses Birmingham, leaving no stone unturned as we focus on both performance and memories that will last a lifetime.”
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held from July 26 to August 2.
DEKYAS NEWS World Breaking News and Trusted Source
