Latest news with #KatieSadleir
Reuters
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Commonwealth jackpot as seven nations battle for future Games
LONDON, April 16 - Commonwealth sport has hit the jackpot with seven nations across four continents jostling to host future editions of the Commonwealth Games, as the race for the prestigious centennial 2030 celebration heats up. Canada, India, and Nigeria had already publicly thrown their hats into the 2030 ring, with two mystery nations also now in the mix, the governing body said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, two additional expressions of interest target future Games, including New Zealand, which has set its sights on 2034. "We are thrilled with the incredible interest from around the Commonwealth," CEO Katie Sadleir said on Wednesday. "This positive response from four of our six regions underlines the importance and significance of the Commonwealth Games and its position as the major multi-sport event in the world sporting calendar alongside the Olympic Games and Paralympics." The flurry of interest follows a challenging period for the event after Australia's Victoria state withdrew as 2026 hosts, citing cost concerns. Scotland stepped in with Glasgow taking the reins for 2026. "We cannot understate the hugely significant role Scotland has played in this change," Sadleir added. "Glasgow 2026 will be a bridge to the Games of tomorrow – an important first step in our journey to reimagine and redefine the Games." Commonwealth Sport launched a new collaborative selection process in January, moving away from traditional bidding to allow potential hosts more flexibility and innovation. "Considering the high level of interest, we will now discuss each submission further," said Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance. The next five months will see candidates developing detailed proposals, with Commonwealth Sport aiming to recommend a 2030 host for approval at its General Assembly in Glasgow in November 2025. The new hosting framework promises reduced costs, flexible programming, and continued commitment to Para sports, with organisers hoping the reimagined model will enable more diverse nations to stage the Games in future. The Commonwealth Games, first held in 1930 as the British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada, brings together athletes from Commonwealth nations and territories every four years. The event has grown to feature over 70 teams competing in more than 20 sports, with the most recent Games held in Birmingham, England in 2022.
The Guardian
16-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Seven countries in running for hosting future Commonwealth Games
Seven countries have expressed interest in hosting future Commonwealth Games. Five of those are focused on staging the centenary 2030 Games while two are looking at editions of the multi-sport event beyond that, Commonwealth Sport has announced. The expressions of interest come from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, which mean Glasgow's hosting of the 2026 Games may signal a break of well over a decade before the UK hosts again, with Britain having hosted two of the last three editions. The seven bidding countries are a boost to the Commonwealth Games movement, with the whole concept having come under scrutiny after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as next year's hosts. Canada, India and Nigeria make up three of the five parties interested in 2030, while New Zealand is targeting the 2034 Games. Commonwealth Sport has not confirmed which future Games beyond 2030 that the other future bidder is looking at. All of the bids are single rather than multi-country and decisions around whether multiple cities within a country will host will be made when the bid delegations hold talks with Commonwealth Sport to discuss hosting plans. Core sports including athletics and swimming must be included in the programmes but future hosts will be afforded greater flexibility, with the optimal number of sports set to be around 15. Hosts will also be encouraged to utilise existing facilities to reduce costs wherever possible. Future Games must also maintain the full commitment to providing a level playing field for para and non-para sport. Bidders for 2030 will now be expected to set out detailed hosting proposals before Commonwealth Sport leads an evaluation of those bids. The Commonwealth Sport executive board will then make a recommendation for a preferred host, subject to approval by its general assembly at a meeting in Glasgow in late November. Commonwealth Sport chief executive Katie Sadleir welcomed the 'incredible interest' shown in hosting and again praised Glasgow for stepping forward to host in 2026, saying the city had set a 'pioneering example' for future hosts. The Glasgow Games will feature 10 sports staged at four venues within an eight-mile corridor.
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Seven nations plan 2030 & 2034 Commonwealth bids
Fears that Glasgow 2026 might be the last-ever Commonwealth Games have been alleviated after seven nations lodged official expressions of interest to host in 2030 or largest city stepped in last year with plans for a scaled-back Games next summer after the Australia state of Victoria withdrew for financial proposed changes to the event - fewer sports, fewer athletes, fewer venues - have lessened the cost and enticed other potential hosts to look at future stagings. Canada, India, Nigeria, plus two others have all publicly confirmed their interest in the centenary Games in 2030, while New Zealand are one of two nations looking at the 2034 January, the 74 Commonwealth nations were invited to lodge notes of interest and the seven who responded positively - all from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania - will have the feasiblity of their bids examined over the next five is expected that the hosts of the 2030 Games will be finalised in Sport chief executive Katie Sadleir said: "We are thrilled with the incredible interest from four of our six regions."We cannot understate the hugely-significant role Scotland has played, having the foresight, tenacity and innovative thinking to step forward and host in 2026. "We are confident that Glasgow's pioneering example will increase the breadth of countries able to host the Games in the decades ahead."Phil Batty, chief executive of Glasgow 2026, said the news shows that next summer's Games will be "a pivotal moment" in the event's history."I have every confidence Glasgow 2026 will pioneer a new model for the major event - one that delivers a successful Games on time, on budget and with high-quality sport at the heart of the experience," he added.
