We choose a number of the potential highlights to look out for in coming days in Scotland.
The Commonwealth Video games had been by no means presupposed to appear to be this. Victoria, Australia, was awarded the 2026 Video games again in 2022, solely to tug out in 2023 as its projected internet hosting prices ballooned from an estimated £1.2 billion in direction of £4 billion — a withdrawal that ultimately value the state round £199 million in compensation.
Glasgow, which had staged a massively widespread Video games in 2014, stepped in as a late alternative host, providing a intentionally scaled-back, condensed version constructed round venues the town already had fairly than new ones constructed for the event. That’s the reason the athletics programme finds itself at Scotstoun Stadium fairly than a newly constructed nationwide stadium — a smaller, extra intimate venue that ought to nonetheless generate a memorable environment throughout the ten days of competitors.
It additionally means a change in protection. For the primary time since 1954, the BBC won’t be the house of the Commonwealth Video games within the UK, with TNT Sports activities having agreed a deal to broadcast intensive reside protection, streamed through HBO Max, whereas free-to-air broadcaster Channel 5 reveals nightly highlights all through the Video games.
The athletics timetable might be discovered right here.
Beneath, we choose simply a number of the potential highlights to look out for within the athletics at Scotstoun.
Ladies’s 800m
The ladies’s 800m goes by means of an enchanting interval and the motion guarantees to be of the very best high quality in Glasgow, too. Keely Hodgkinson will not be in Glasgow however her coaching associate Georgia Hunter Bell will likely be, and she or he faces a mouthwatering rematch with world champion Lilian Odira. The Kenyan took gold in Tokyo final summer season, simply forward of Hunter Bell and Hodgkinson.
„I have never achieved the Commonwealth Video games earlier than, so it is undoubtedly a bucket record championships for me,“ says Hunter Bell. „I really feel like all of the greats have medalled or received the Commonwealth Video games, so it is completely one thing I need to be part of. It seems like a house Video games, despite the fact that I will be representing England. After I did the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in 2024, that was a little bit of a style of what the help could be like, and undoubtedly makes you run sooner. It’s totally particular.“
When? The ladies’s 800m ultimate takes place on July 31.
Males’s javelin
Pakistan versus India is a match-up usually at its most intense on the cricket pitch and, although there’s a considerably friendlier rivalry, the exploits of Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra have introduced that nationwide battle to the lads’s javelin.
Pakistan star Nadeem is the defending Commonwealth and reigning Olympic champion, in addition to the Asian record-holder with 92.97m. Chopra, in the meantime, turned one in every of India’s most well-known sportspeople following his personal Olympic win in 2021. The usual of competitors in Glasgow appears set to be fierce, nevertheless. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage (92.62m) got here near Nadeem’s document lately, whereas two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago — Commonwealth gold medallist at Glasgow 2014 — is also within the combine.
When? The boys’s javelin ultimate takes place on July 31.
Ladies’s 10,000m
Particular issues are inclined to occur when the Commonwealth 10,000m takes place within the UK, and the ladies’s ultimate appears set to get the ball rolling on opening evening at Scotstoun Stadium. Eilish McColgan, who so famously struck gold 4 years in the past, has had damage issues this 12 months however the Scot will likely be roared on by the house crowd, as will her team-mate Megan Keith. Remarkably, Kenya haven’t had a gold medallist within the occasion for 12 years, and their cost will likely be led by Diana Wanza and Miriam Chebet.
When? The ladies’s 10,000m ultimate takes place on July 27.
Males’s hammer
Canada’s Ethan Katzberg, the reigning Olympic and world champion, is in prime place to take gold right here, however this will likely be a massively memorable, and emotional, competitors for Scotland’s Chris Bennett. The Olympian additionally competed at Glasgow 2014 however retired from competitors in 2023. He determined to return to the game and certified to compete once more in his house metropolis, organising what he says would be the „good ending“ to his profession.
When? The boys’s hammer ultimate takes place on July 27.
Ladies’s heptathlon
Daley Thompson received three Commonwealth decathlon titles throughout his spectacular profession, however no lady has accomplished that very same feat with regards to the heptathlon. Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who took gold on the Gold Coast Video games in 2018 and once more in Birmingham in 2022, had been chasing precisely that document — solely to withdraw from the Video games by means of damage on the eve of the opening ceremony, selecting as a substitute to prioritise her health for subsequent month’s European Championships in Birmingham.
Her withdrawal reshapes the complete competitors. Northern Eire’s Kate O’Connor, the world silver medallist and runner-up to Johnson-Thompson in Birmingham 4 years in the past, now goes into Glasgow because the clear favorite. England’s alternative, Niamh Emerson, arrives with a exceptional story of her personal: the 2018 Commonwealth bronze medallist and world U20 champion endured years of damage earlier than lastly finishing her first heptathlon in eight years this April, and a powerful exhibiting in Glasgow would cap a real comeback. Birmingham bronze medallist Jade O’Dowda completes a aggressive area chasing the title in Johnson-Thompson’s absence.
When? The ladies’s heptathlon competitors will get underneath means on July 28.
Ladies’s 5000m
Scotland’s Laura Muir and Australia’s Jessica Hull are extra used to assembly one another within the middle-distance occasions, however this time they are going to come head to head over 12 and a half laps. Hull, who can be tackling the Mile, can have excessive expectations of successful a primary Commonwealth medal, whereas reigning 1500m champion Muir will likely be aiming to profit from house benefit. British champion Hannah Nuttall and European U20 champion Innes Fitzgerald will likely be within the thick of the motion for Crew England.
When? The ladies’s 5000m ultimate takes place on July 30.
Males’s discus
Australia’s Matthew Denny and England’s Lawrence Okoye are coaching companions, however every will likely be seeking to safe bragging rights within the males’s discus competitors. Okoye is the British record-holder and improved his nationwide mark earlier this 12 months, whereas Denny is the defending champion. The house spectators may even have the ability to get behind Scotland’s Nick Percy, who’s competing at his third Commonwealth Video games.
When? The boys’s discus ultimate takes place on August 1.
Ladies’s 400m
The ladies’s 400m loses one in every of its headline names after Amber Anning, who has Olympic, world and European medals to her identify, was among the many raft of withdrawals confirmed on the eve of the Video games. That leaves the door open in a still-strong England contingent: Yemi Mary John can have excessive hopes of a primary main particular person medal, whereas their British relay team-mate Nicole Yeargin can name on Scottish help as she appears so as to add a person medal to her relay pedigree.
When? The ladies’s 400m ultimate takes place on August 1.
Ladies’s 3000m steeplechase
World champion Religion Cherotich is a part of a powerful Kenyan staff heading to Glasgow, and the Olympic bronze medallist appears like being the one to beat. However this will likely be a superb take a look at for England’s Elise Thorner, one of many quickest ladies’s steeplechasers in Europe this 12 months and in addition with the continental championships in thoughts later this summer season, in addition to Scotland’s Sarah Tait.
When? The 3000m steeplechase ultimate takes place on July 29.
Ladies’s shot
Only a few months in the past, Wales‘ Adele Nicoll was hurtling down the ice in Milan Cortina, making historical past by turning into the primary British feminine to compete within the monobob at a Winter Olympics. She can be a four-time British shot put champion and will likely be competing at her second Commonwealth Video games. This will likely be no straightforward activity, nevertheless, with the likes of Canada’s two-time world indoor champion Sarah Mitton defending her title.
When? The ladies’s shot put ultimate takes place on July 29.
Ladies’s excessive leap
Australia are sending a powerful athletics staff to Glasgow and their contingent will likely be a drive to be reckoned with within the ladies’s excessive leap. Not solely will world champion Nicola Olyslagers, additionally world indoor champion in Glasgow in 2024, be returning, however so too will Eleanor Patterson, who additionally has a historical past of popping out on high within the metropolis, having been Commonwealth champion in 2014. England’s Morgan Lake, a bronze medallist in 2018 and simply exterior of the medals in 2022, would love so as to add to her tally right here, too.
When? The ladies’s excessive leap ultimate takes place on July 28.
Males’s 100m
Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala is returning to defend his title, however will not have all of it his personal means towards a area that options Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy, who’s going for a 100m/200m dash double, and Eddie Nketia, who ran a wind-assisted time of 9.74 earlier this 12 months. Paris Olympic finalist Louie Hinchliffe will likely be making his Commonwealth debut with England.
When? The boys’s 100m ultimate takes place on July 28.
Ladies’s 100m
England’s line-up has been reshaped by a wave of late withdrawals, with Daryll Neita amongst these to tug out on the eve of the Video games; the staff will as a substitute be led by world 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt, who was recovering from severe damage throughout the Video games 4 years in the past and has taken nice strides ahead over the shorter distance in 2026, alongside coaching associate Imani Lansiquot.
When? The ladies’s 100m ultimate takes place on July 28.
READ MORE: Commonwealth conundrum
Ladies’s T37/38 100m
One of the enduring photographs of the Birmingham 2022 Video games was Olivia Breen’s celebration after successful T37/38 gold, beating England’s then reigning Paralympic and Commonwealth champion to the title. Each are again for a rematch in Glasgow. Who will come out on high this time?
When? The heats and ultimate of the ladies’s T37/38 100m are on July 27.
Up-to-date entries might be discovered right here.
