The Commonwealth Games are a quadrennial international multi-sport event that features athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, which consists primarily of former British Empire countries.
The most recent Commonwealth Games were held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8, 2022. It marked the 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games, featuring 72 teams from various countries and territories competing across multiple sports.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland. This will mark the fourth time Scotland has hosted the event, following previous games in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The 10 Commonwealth sports that will compete across Glasgow in 2026 🤩
Which sport are you most looking forward to?#Glasgow2026 pic.twitter.com/Co8rOitq51
— Glasgow 2026 (@Glasgow_2026) October 22, 2024
The decision to host the games in Glasgow was confirmed in September 2024 after Victoria, Australia, withdrew from its bid due to logistical challenges.
However, there is a twist in the 2026 Commonwealth Games: The CWG 2026 doesn't include prominent games such as hockey, badminton, wrestling, cricket, and shooting from the event. It has been done to cut costs and make the event more budget-friendly.
Why Popular Sports Are Absent from CWG 2026?
Several sports have been excluded from the 2026 Commonwealth Games for various reasons, primarily related to budget constraints and logistical considerations. Here are the key points regarding the omissions:
Excluded Sports
The following sports will not be included in the 2026 Commonwealth Games:
- Cricket
- Hockey
- Badminton
- Wrestling
- Table Tennis
- Rugby Sevens
- Beach Volleyball
- Mountain Biking
- Squash
- Diving
Reasons for Exclusion
- Budget Constraints: The decision to reduce the number of sports from 19 in Birmingham 2022 to just 10 in Glasgow 2026 was influenced by the need to create a more budget-friendly program, especially after Australia withdrew from hosting due to rising costs.
- Operational Viability: The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) aimed to streamline the event to ensure it remains financially sustainable and manageable within the available venues. This led to a focus on core sports that could be effectively accommodated.
- Historical Context: The reduction reflects a return to a more traditional format for the Commonwealth Games, which historically featured around 10 sports. While there was an expansion in recent editions, future hosts are encouraged to adapt to financial realities43.
- Impact on Medal Prospects: The exclusion of popular sports like cricket and badminton is particularly significant for countries like India, which have strong performances in these disciplines. This change may affect their overall medal tally at the Games.
Included Sports
For the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, the following ten sports will be featured:
- Athletics and Para Athletics
- Swimming and Para Swimming
- Artistic Gymnastics
- Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling
- Netball
- Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting
- Boxing
- Judo
- Bowls and Para Bowls
- 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball
The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be held across four venues: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena (including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome), and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC).
Glasgow. It's good to be back ❤️
— Glasgow 2026 (@Glasgow_2026) October 22, 2024
🗓️ 23 July - 2 August 2026#Glasgow2026 pic.twitter.com/gesFlyYvNC
The 2026 edition will feature a significantly reduced sports lineup compared to the 2022 Birmingham Games, which included 20 sports.
Several key sports have been dropped, such as hockey, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis, diving, rugby sevens, beach volleyball, mountain biking, squash, and rhythmic gymnastics.
Shooting, previously removed from the Birmingham 2022 program, remains excluded from the 2026 schedule.
Shooting and wrestling have historically been strongholds for India at the CWG, with India winning 135 medals (63 gold) in shooting and 114 medals (49 gold) in wrestling. At the 2022 Games, Indian wrestlers secured 12 medals, including six gold, one silver, and five bronze.
The exclusion of field hockey marks the first time it will be absent from the event since its debut at the 1998 CWG. India, with six medals in total— one gold, four silver, and one bronze— ranks as the second-most successful field hockey nation at the CWG, after Australia.
India also boasts impressive records in other excluded sports, with 31 medals (including 10 gold) in badminton, 28 medals (10 gold) in table tennis, and five medals (one gold) in squash across various editions.
Also Read| GK Quiz on Commonwealth Games 2022
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