Athletics is one of 10 sports to be contested at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, but there will be no marathons on the road.
A reduced program of 10 sports at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will feature athletics for able-bodied and fit athletes. But road marathons will not be held at the Games as sports like hockey, badminton, cricket and rugby sevens have also been ruled out.
Commonwealth Games marathon winners include Rob de Castella, Lisa Martin, Kerry McCann, Douglas Wakihuri and Ron Hill. But there will be no champions in 2026.
The games were moved to Glasgow after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out due to rising costs. Glasgow last hosted the event in 2014.
The 2026 Games are expected to attract 3,000 athletes from up to 74 Commonwealth countries and territories. The 10 sports to be represented in 2026 were originally supposed to be 22 if the event were to be held in Australia.
Rob de Castella (Mark Shearman)
Apart from athletics, which will be held at Scotstown Stadium in 2026, the other sports are swimming, basketball, artistic gymnastics, boxing, judo, lawn, netball, cycling and weightlifting. As with marathons, cycling will lose its road races.
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) CEO Cathy Sadleir said: “The Games promise to be a truly immersive festival of sport and a celebration of culture and diversity, inspiring athletes and sport, with a fan experience more accessible than ever. »
First Minister John Swinney said: “While Glasgow 2026 will look very different to previous Games, we can and must use this as an opportunity to work together to ensure that this new concept delivers a strong and sustainable future for the Games.”
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray called the approval “an excellent example of the UK and Scottish Governments working together to secure Scotland”, citing the £2.3m UK Government funding for security costs.
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