Scotland deserves a pat on the back for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games has been a success given all the obstacles that were in the way - attention now turns to the 2030 games
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of going to see the athletics at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
It was an absolute downpour - I honestly do not think I have ever been so wet. However, like the good Scots we are, my husband and I stuck it out and enjoyed every bit of action on the Scotstoun track.
We were rewarded for our efforts, being able to witness a Commonwealth Games record being set in the men’s 100m finals by Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme.
Yes, the games were not quite what they were in 2014. Even just take the athletics for example - Scotstoun Stadium is about a fifth of the size of Hampden Park, which was used the last time Glasgow hosted the games. My experience as a spectator at Hampden in 2014 was wildly different from what I had last week.
And it would have been nice if all the sports we are used to seeing at the Commonwealth Games could have been run, and events that are free to access like the marathon and road cycle races could have taken place.
However, given what Scotland and the city of Glasgow had to deal with, I think we should all hold our heads high on this one. We made the best of a bad situation, and had fun doing it.
Attention will soon turn to the next Commonwealth Games in 2030, which will be held in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Victoria’s attempts to host the games this summer fell apart in quite spectacular fashion. Birmingham was beset with financial difficulties four years ago as well. So how can we make sure the same thing does not happen again in 2030?
As sports fans, there is only so much we can do. A lot of the decisions are completely out of the spectators’ hands.
However, if games chiefs can get more people involved and more people excited about the games, it is surely a recipe for success.
Look at how many people tune into the Olympics every four years. Of course the Commonwealth Games is smaller and is missing big sporting nations like the US, but it is still a major multi-sports event with thousands of the world’s best athletes competing.
If we can get the best and brightest we have to offer in front of fans well in advance of the games, people will get more excited.
The other big thing is making it easier for people to actually watch the games.
As I already mentioned, having free-to-access events like the marathon are key, but so are affordable ticket prices. While ticket prices for Glasgow dropped dramatically as the games approached, I paid nearly £200 for my two seats - cheaper tickets from the off might have meant more bums on seats.
And then the big one - get the coverage on free-to-air television like the BBC. I realise the BBC was outbid here, but free-to-air broadcasters who are showing the games in Australia and New Zealand have seen booming audience numbers. People want to watch the games, they just need a way to do so.
All of these things need to be considered between tonight’s closing ceremony, and the opening ceremony in India in four years' time. There are concerns the games has no future, but wherever there are sports fans, there will be a way.
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