Commonwealth Games England is delighted to announce the return of the Team England Futures programme, delivered by SportsAid, for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

After the success of the inaugural programme for Birmingham 2022, over 100 athletes, coaches and support staff will join this year’s cohort.

Participants will be offered a behind-the-scenes insight into how multi-sport Games operate, with the view of aiding preparations for future major events, including Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The programme is funded by Sport England and Commonwealth Games England, and will be delivered by SportsAid.

Commonwealth Games England CEO Mark Osikoya said: “The launch of Team England Futures marks another exciting milestone on the road to Glasgow 2026.

"The innovative programme offers an invaluable insight for our stars of the future, and the benefit will be felt well beyond Team England.

"The programme only further underlines the vital role Commonwealth Games England, and the broader Commonwealth Sport movement, play within the wider sporting ecosystem in the UK.

"Thanks to Sport England and SportsAid for their support in facilitating the programme and I can't wait to welcome all our athletes, coaches, and support staff to Glasgow this summer."

The Team England Futures programme will offer a range of immersive experiences for participants before and during Glasgow 2026, including access to Games-time environments. They will have access to meet mentors, ambassadors and fellow athletes from a range of different sports, creating opportunities to build networks and connect to peers from other sports.

The programme will crucially provide preparation for future competitions and give athletes, coaches and support staff an invaluable insight into the challenges and expectations of multi-sport events.

Participating athletes and coaches have been nominated by their National Governing Body to take part on account of being identified as having future multi-sport Games potential.

Previous participants on the 2022 programme include England netball internationals Olivia Tchine and Funmi Fadoju, Paris 2024 Olympian Eva Okaro and Paralympians Karim Chan, Luke Nuttall, and Lottie McGuinness.

McGuinness has been confirmed as part of Team England’s para powerlifting squad for Glasgow 2026 and spoke of how important Team England Futures was in her development. “The programme was incredible,” she said. 

“It was a few days I will never forget. When I first got there, I was very nervous because I was a very nervous person back then. 

“As soon as I walked in, I was welcomed with open arms and it was so lovely to meet athletes from other sports and hear about their journeys and why they were on the programme. 

“It gave me so many opportunities. I was honoured to sit down with the Prince and Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte. 

“I got to watch so many sports and see the kitting out process. It gave me such a sense of pride and what I could look forward to. It helped me massively in the lead up to Paris.” 

The programme will once again be delivered by SportsAid, a charity dedicated to supporting young athletes.

Tim Lawler, Chief Executive at SportsAid, said:

“Team England Futures is a special and potentially transformative experience for everyone who has the opportunity to be involved.

“The programme is an immersive, inspirational and instructive blend to help an emerging cohort of athletes and coaches be ready for when their Games moment comes.

"Everyone at SportsAid is both proud and excited to be working alongside Commonwealth Games England and Sport England again to lead the programme for 2026.”