'No guarantees' - joyful Glasgow cannot banish all Commonwealth Games doubts
The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have concluded successfully, but questions remain regarding the long-term viability and future hosting of the event. Organizers and officials acknowledge that while the Glasgow edition was a success, there are no guarantees for future games following the withdrawal of previous hosts.
Why it matters
The Commonwealth Games face an existential crisis regarding their future relevance and the ability of host cities to commit to the financial and logistical demands of the event.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Scotland's Josh Kerr provided one of the moments of the 2026 Games by winning the mile race at Scotstoun Stadium
Glasgow has performed the surgery the Commonwealth Games needed to keep it alive.
Eleven days. 674 medals. Thousands of happy fans.
But this is only the start of the recovery.
The Indian city of Ahmedabad now stands where Victoria did four years ago - as the next hosts of an event that will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2030.
Victoria pulled out. Can Ahmedabad give certainty it won't?
"I don't think one can give any guarantees," Raghu Iyer - chief executive of the Indian Olympic Association - told BBC Sport.
It was a note of caution that showed questions about the Games' future had not been banished as the 2026 Games closed on Sunday evening.
Why the Commonwealth Games are important to NI athletes
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