Comments from John Steele OBE, Chair, Commonwealth Games England

We welcome the Scottish Government’s support for hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and excitedly await final confirmation from the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Scotland.

We fully support the vision to develop a new-look and sustainable version of the Games.

It has been clear for several months that Glasgow was the only viable bidder to host in less than two years, and we have full confidence in our friends there to deliver a reimagined event that requires no financial contribution from public funds.

We appreciate how difficult it has been to find a solution to this challenge but we have been determined to remain optimistic, while equally realistic that the future of the Games was potentially in jeopardy.

We understand that there is still a final confirmation process to be followed but are equally hopeful for a speedy finalisation of the programme of events, to bring much-needed clarity for sports, athletes, coaches, officials and, of course, our fans and supporters.

Glasgow was a tremendous host in 2014 and we have many memories from our medal table-topping performance there.

England has hosted the Games on three occasions, London 1934, Manchester 2002 and, most recently, Birmingham 2022.

We now stand ready to give any support or advice our friends at Commonwealth Games Scotland need in the coming months.

As Team England, we are part of a proud, near century-long tradition and we look forward to continuing this heritage in Glasgow.