Intro

A year ago, the Commonwealth Games looked dead and buried. The Australian state of Victoria had pulled out of hosting the 2026 edition due to spiralling costs, and in Canada, the province of Alberta had stepped back from bidding for the 2030 edition.

But now Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow, has ridden to the rescue, agreeing to host the 2026 Games. It says its scaled back, lower-budget model for doing so could encourage poorer countries to do the same in the future.

How realistic is that? Is Glasgow 2026 the last hurrah for an anachronistic sporting event, inextricably tied to the British empire, or does it really represent a fresh start?

(Picture: A Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 delegation in Glasgow, UK. Credit: BBC)

Presented and produced by Gideon Long