Scotland agrees to host Commonwealth Games in 2026

A deal to allow Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games has been backed by the Scottish government, BBC Scotland understands.

A scaled-down version of the event, featuring fewer sports and athletes, will return to the city 12 years after it last hosted the games.

The Australian state of Victoria was originally chosen to stage the multi-sport event but withdrew as host due to rising costs.

Australian authorities have promised "a multi-million pound investment" to help finalise the deal.

Formal confirmation of the decision is expected shortly.

Health and Sport Minister Neil Gray held talks with Commonwealth Games Australia yesterday to discuss funding, and received the assurances the Scottish government were looking for.

It has now written to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to officially back a stripped-back event which will see see 10 sports take place across four venues in the city.

A final decision was taken at a cabinet meeting this morning.

It is understood the Games will come at no cost to the public purse, with funding coming from compensation paid to the CGF after the Australians pulled out.

The UK government will provide financial support in the event of any increased security threat but had refused to completely underwrite the Games.

The total budget for the Games is expected to be about £114m.

Glasgow last hosted the Games in 2014 at a cost of £543m, with 17 sports taking place in an event praised by organisers as the best ever.

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