Commonwealth Games 2026: Cricket, Badminton, Hockey, Squash, Table Tennis, and Wrestling Dropped
The Commonwealth Games 2026, officially known as the 24th edition of the Commonwealth Games, will be held in Victoria, Australia. Scheduled from March 17 to 29, 2026, the event will mark the return of the Games to Australia for the sixth time, following the 2018 Gold Coast Games. With athletes from 72 nations and territories competing across multiple sports, the 2026 Games will take place in regional cities like Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, and Gippsland. This decentralized approach aims to promote inclusivity and community engagement, showcasing the sporting talents of the Commonwealth while celebrating diversity and sustainability.
Commonwealth Games 2026
The Commonwealth Games 2026 will be hosted by Glasgow, Scotland. This decision was made after the original host, Victoria, Australia, withdrew due to escalating costs, which were projected to rise from AUD $2 billion to $7 billion. Glasgow, which successfully hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014, will organize a scaled-down version of the event. The games will feature around 10-13 sports, significantly fewer than the 19 sports in Birmingham 2022.
The event will focus on sustainability, using existing venues such as Scotstoun Stadium and the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has committed £100 million to help cover the costs, and Commonwealth Games Australia has contributed £2.3 million. Notably, the Scottish and UK governments are not financially underwriting the event, and the plan avoids major public investment.
Commonwealth Games 2026: Sport which is not Available
Several sports will be removed from the Commonwealth Games 2026, as the event will be scaled back significantly due to budgetary constraints. Key sports like wrestling, cricket, field hockey, badminton, and table tennis have been excluded, which is a notable blow for countries like India, where these events are strong medal contenders. Esports, which debuted in 2022, has also been removed as a medal event due to organizational challenges and low viewer engagement. Cricket, Badminton, Hockey, Squash, Table Tennis, and Wrestling finally Dropped.
Commonwealth Games 2026 Earlier Games List
The Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow will feature a mix of popular and newly added sports. Here’s a list of the main sports expected to be part of the event:
- Athletics (including para-athletics)
- Swimming (including para-swimming)
- Diving
- Badminton
- Basketball 3×3 (including wheelchair basketball)
- Boxing
- Beach Volleyball
- Cycling (Track, Road, BMX, Mountain Biking, including para events)
- Golf
- Hockey
- Netball
- Rugby Sevens
- Shooting (including para-shooting)
- Squash
- Table Tennis (including para-table tennis)
- Triathlon (including para-triathlon)
- Weightlifting (including para-powerlifting)
- Lawn Bowls (including para-lawn bowls)
- Cricket (T20 women’s tournament)
- Coastal Rowing (a new addition)
Some sports like judo and rhythmic gymnastics, which were part of earlier Games, will not be included this time.
The Commonwealth Games 2026, now being held in Glasgow after Victoria’s withdrawal, will focus on a streamlined list of just 10 sports. However, shooting, which was absent from the 2022 Games, will make a return, and new events like BMX and coastal rowing will debut.
FAQs
Q 1. Where will the 2026 Commonwealth Games be held?
Ans. The 2026 Games will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, after Victoria, Australia, withdrew due to cost concerns.
Q 2. Why did Victoria cancel its hosting of the Games?
Ans. Victoria canceled due to a budget blowout, with estimated costs rising from $2.6 billion to over $7 billion.
Q 3. How many sports will be featured in 2026?
Ans. The 2026 Commonwealth Games will feature 10 sports, including athletics and swimming.
Q 4. When are the Games scheduled?
Ans. The event will run from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
Q 5. What are the Commonwealth Games?
Ans. The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event involving athletes from 70+ Commonwealth nations, celebrated for inclusivity, integrating para-sports into the program.
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