Glasgow delivered a slimmed-down Commonwealth Games on a budget of just £150million, after the city and the Scottish Government agreed in September 2024 to rescue the event from Victoria, Australia, which pulled out over spiralling costs.
Victoria withdrew as hosting costs threatened to exceed £3billion and paid £100million in compensation for handing over the Games at short notice. The Scottish Government and the City of Glasgow stepped in with a rescue package, promising taxpayers the switch would not cost them extra.
With a fraction of a typical Games budget to work with, organisers made deep cuts. Only ten sports featured, with hockey, badminton and squash left out. There were no free-to-watch road events in cycling or athletics, no athletes' village, no new venues, and the opening and closing ceremonies were held indoors rather than in a stadium. The concessions raised concerns that the sparser event could tarnish the legacy of Glasgow's 2014 Commonwealth Games, still remembered fondly as a highlight of Scottish sport.
Broadcast deal and ticket complaints
The BBC's offer for television rights was reportedly "derisory" and the corporation was outbid by TNT Sports, putting live coverage of the Games behind a paywall for the first time. Free-to-air coverage was limited to highlights shows on Channel 5 and BBC Alba.
Some events drew complaints over ticket prices considered too high. A number of high-profile athletes withdrew late, including Scotland's Eilish McColgan, and temporary stands with no roofs at Scotstoun left spectators exposed when heavy rain fell during the athletics.
Despite the setbacks, competition across the 11 days generated a buzz, spanning swimming at Tollcross, athletics, cycling, netball, 3x3 basketball, judo, boxing, weightlifting, gymnastics and bowls. The Games' own social media channels received close to half a billion views, making up for the loss of the BBC's traditional early evening highlights show.
Australia tops the medal table
Athletes from all four home nations said they were proud to compete for their individual countries rather than Great Britain, a distinguishing feature of the Commonwealth Games. Although Australia gave up the chance to host, it sent many of its top competitors, who won 171 medals in total, including 70 gold.
Scotland finished with 39 medals. Duncan Scott opened the host nation's account with a swimming gold, while Angharad Evans won both the 100m and 200m breaststroke. Reuben Ward won gymnastics gold, and Melanie Woods won her T54 1500m race twice before adding the 400m title on the same day. Neil Fachie added to his record in the para-cycling, and Megan Keith claimed 5,000m bronze.
Josh Kerr's Super Saturday
Josh Kerr provided one of the Games' standout moments at Scotstoun on what was dubbed Super Saturday, powering away to win gold in the mile final. He then spent the following hour signing autographs, posing for selfies and talking with children in the crowd.
