The 74 nations and territories of the Commonwealth are today marking 500-days-to-go until Glasgow 2026.
The celebration will coincide with the launch of the King’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace, with His Majesty to hand the baton to representatives of the host nation, Scotland, before it traverses the globe ahead of the Opening Ceremony on 23 July next year.
Glasgow 2026 will feature a 10-sport program concentrated across four venues within a 15-kilometre corridor of the city.
The 10 days of competition will see more than 200 gold medals awarded, including a record 47 Para-sport medal events across six sports.
The confirmed venues include Commonwealth Arena and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the Scottish Exhibition Centre (SECD), Scotstoun Stadium and Tollcross International Swimming Centre, with the sport program comprising of:
- Athletics and Para-Athletics
- Basketball 3×3 and Wheelchair Basketball 3×3
- Bowls and Para-Bowls (indoor)
- Boxing
- Cycling and Para-Cycling (Track)
- Gymnastics (Artistic)
- Judo
- Netball
- Swimming and Para-Swimming
- Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting
Birmingham 2022 champions Nina Kennedy (athletics), Shayna Jack OAM (swimming) and Tim Hodge OAM (swimming) are among the green and gold charges aiming to compete.
A bronze medallist at Gold Coast 2018, pole vaulter Kennedy has since won the 2023 world crown and an inspired gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
On the road to the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships this year, it is Glasgow for Australia’s athletics team beyond that.
“It’s hard to believe it’s just 500 days until the Games kick-off in Glasgow,” Kennedy said.
“It’s always such an honour to represent my country and wear the green and gold proudly.”
“The Commonwealth Games are always such a unique and special sporting event.”
For Jack, Birmingham 2022 marked her return to global swimming, and it became a victory lap, winning a gold, silver and bronze medal.
That success was backed up by dual gold at Paris 2024 in the women’s 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays.
“I couldn’t be more excited about representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games again,” Jack said.
“It’s a relief to know the Games are back, and to do it in a city with so much history and passion for sport is special. I’ll be doing my best to make the nation proud.”
“Birmingham was the start of bigger things to come for me in Paris and I want the chance to get back in the pool at the Commonwealth Games.”
A fellow Dolphin, Hodge also won gold at Birmingham 2022 to mark the first time he stood atop the podium at a Games.
At the Paralympic Games last year, he won gold in both the men’s 200m medley SM9 and mixed 4x100m medley relay.
“The anticipation about Glasgow is building. It’s hard to believe how close it now,” Hodge said.
“The Commonwealth Games are one of the few chances you get to represent Australia and I’m ready to show the world what I can do again.”
Petria Thomas OAM OLY is set to return as Chef de Mission, with the nine-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist this past weekend returning from a site visit to the host city.
“Visiting Glasgow has been invaluable in ensuring we understand what our team can expect in 2026,” Thomas said.
“Beyond performance, we want Glasgow 2026 to be an unforgettable experience for every Team Member. Our planning focuses not just on podium success but also on fostering a team environment that support and inspires every person who joins us on the ground.”
The Commonwealth Games play a pivotal role in Australia’s high-performance pathway, with 46% of Australian athletes making their international debut at the Games and more than half of Commonwealth Games medallists going on to medal at subsequent international competitions.
Australia topped the medal tally at Birmingham 2022 with 180 medals, including 67 gold, 57 silver and 56 bronze, edging out England who claimed a total of 176 medals and 57 gold.
The Australian Commonwealth Games Team aspires to be the number one nation in terms of gold medals won, overall medals won, medallists, and the number of sports winning medals at the Games.
