Glasgow hailed for saving Commonwealth Games as baton passes to Amdavad
Glasgow successfully hosted the 2026 Commonwealth Games after stepping in to replace the original host, Victoria, which withdrew due to rising costs. The event has been praised for its sustainable, scaled-back format, which organizers believe provides a viable blueprint for the future of the multi-sport competition.
Why it matters
The successful execution of these Games saved the event from potential cancellation and established a new, more affordable model for hosting international sporting festivals.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Paul O'Hare BBC Scotland The closing ceremony included a spectacular fireworks display above the Clyde. This video has no sound. The man responsible for delivering Glasgow 2026 said the city had "saved and reinvented" the Commonwealth Games, three years after its future was plunged into doubt.
Ahead of Sunday's closing ceremony - which featured a dazzling fireworks display over the River Clyde - Phil Batty recalled how Glasgow stepped up when the original hosts pulled out.
And he believes the legacy of the sustainable, scaled-back Games will shape the future of the multi-sports event.
The Commonwealth flag has been handed over to the Indian city of Amdavad, also known as Ahmedabad, which will stage the centenary event in 2030.
But Batty said Glasgow's decision to host the event for a second time in 12 years would never be forgotten.
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