Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland chief executive Conal Heatley has admitted that they are preparing for a “different” Games in two years’ time but has welcomed the announcement that Glasgow will host the 2026 event.
It was announced on Tuesday morning that the Scottish city will welcome the event after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew in July 2023 having been initially announced as host in April 2022.
It is relief for many athletes, who were worried their shot at Commonwealth glory could pass them by when it was feared that the 2026 Games would have to be cancelled, but Glasgow has stepped up and will put on the ten-day sporting extravaganza, which begins on July 23.
However, not just is it a different Games because the host venue has changed, but it will also be different as there are only ten sports down to be contested across four venues – Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball.
While the majority of sports that Northern Ireland won medals at in Birmingham in 2022 have been retained, there is also disappointment that some sports have been axed, including the triathlon which Chloe MacCombe won silver in two years ago, although the hope is they will return in 2030.
Indeed, MacCombe was one of three para-athletes to claim medals for Northern Ireland in Birmingham, their first ever para-athletics medals at the Games, and the hope is that they will be able to build on that success in Glasgow.
“We now have clarity on what the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will look like. We know the venues and the sports that will be included. Our immediate priority is to work with our colleagues at Sport NI and across the ten sports to identify how we can best support our local athletes,” commented Heatley.
“These Games will be quite different from previous editions, but we have confidence that they will provide a fantastic experience for athletes, coaches, staff and spectators.
“Recognising that more than half our member sports are not included within the sports programme for Glasgow, we will continue to work with them to ensure that they are Games ready for 2030 when we expect the number of sports to grow again.”
Two-time Commonwealth gold medallist lawn bowler Ian McClure was thrilled to see his sport retain its status for the 2026 Games and is excited to begin the selection process for the event in earnest.
The 51-year-old won gold in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and again in Birmingham 24 years later, both in the fours, and, all being well, will head to Glasgow as a defending champion trying to make it a treble for Northern Ireland.
“I think it is huge for bowls. The pinnacle of our sport is the Commonwealth Games as, at this moment in time, we are not an Olympic sport. To get confirmation that we are in the ten chosen sports for Glasgow in 2026 is just fantastic,” he beamed.
“With some of the strides we have made in Northern Ireland in para-bowls over the last 18 months this is real like the cherry on top of the cake.
“It would have been very disappointing if bowls wasn’t involved for the sport in general but especially the para side. This is a great opportunity for those persons with a disability to play in a Commonwealth Games and you can’t get much better really.”