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In 1891, an English clergyman named John Astley Cooper proposed a sporting contest among members of the British empire, which eventually led to the creation of the Commonwealth Games. First held in Australia in 1930, these games have become a regular event, with the most recent edition taking place in Birmingham, England last year. However, the future of the games is now uncertain due to the withdrawal of Victoria, Australia as the host for the 2026 adult games and the lack of support from Canada’s Alberta for a bid. Without a radical change to attract new hosts, sponsors, and broadcasters, the games may fade into history.
Hosting the Commonwealth Games has historically provided social and economic benefits, particularly in terms of sports and infrastructure development. For example, the 2002 event contributed to the revitalization of east Manchester, with the main athletics stadium later becoming the home of Premier League club Manchester City. Similar legacy effects were seen in Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018. According to a 2019 study by PwC, hosting the games since 2002 has generally boosted the GDP of the host city/region by £800 million to £1.2 billion.
The Commonwealth Games were the first international multi-sport event to include athletes with disabilities as full members of national teams. They also provide an opportunity for developing nations to compete and excel on an international stage, inspiring local sports. Although the Commonwealth Games Federation has 72 member nations and territories, only 56 of them are part of the Commonwealth itself.
However, the Commonwealth Games face challenges in attracting attention in an increasingly crowded sporting calendar. With the expansion of world and regional championships in various sports, including top-level women’s sports like the current football World Cup, there are other events that fulfill more compelling needs and draw larger audiences. The absence of key nations in some Commonwealth events also leads to the absence of top stars. Additionally, lukewarm sponsor and broadcaster interest means that the games rely heavily on taxpayer funding compared to other major sporting events.
Victoria’s withdrawal from hosting the 2026 games is a significant setback, considering last year’s games were relocated to Birmingham after Durban, South Africa failed to secure funding. This prompted a revamp aimed at making future games smaller, more cost-effective, and flexible. Hosts now have the freedom to choose which events to include, with only athletics and swimming being compulsory.
Alternative models, such as rotating the games between venues that already have the necessary facilities in larger member economies, could be explored. However, this would diminish the legacy and regional showcase elements of the games, which goes against the recent reforms to attract more diverse hosts beyond the UK and Australia.
The uncertain future of the games does not jeopardize the Commonwealth as an institution. With its focus on promoting democracy, trade, economic links, and climate issues, the Commonwealth has expanded its membership to include four new countries that were not formerly under British rule since 1995. Perhaps expos or cultural festivals could be a more cost-effective way to bring Commonwealth members together. While many would be saddened by the potential loss of the games, their future remains uncertain unless hosts find them compelling enough to stage.
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