Commonwealth Games 2026: Phil Batty on Glasgow’s plans

“2026 is definitely a game-changing moment for the Commonwealth Sport movement,” he adds.

“We’ve had such successful Games in previous years – in Birmingham, on the Gold Coast, in Glasgow.

“I think people will be looking at Glasgow 2026 and seeing what happens here, and Scotland’s contribution to the future of the movement as a really defining moment in the history of the Commonwealth Games.”

Had Glasgow not stepped in, there would be no Commonwealth Games next year after Victoria pulled out as host over spiralling costs.

If the movement is to survive as a concept, this scaled-down version of previous incarnations is likely to be a blueprint for the survival of the movement, which has its centenary year in 2030.

“I feel Glasgow’s done a really important job in re-setting the Games for future host cities in 2030, 2034 and 2038,” says Batty, who is involved in a world-leading drone light show business with expertise in staging global shows and events.

“This is a bridge to those new models of delivering the Games. There’s no better place in the Commonwealth than Glasgow to be able to do that.

“We’ve got the expertise, we’ve got the venues, we’ve got the talent. I’m excited about how this is really going to take the Commonwealth sport movement forward. I see a really positive future for the Commonwealth Games. “

He is just days into his new role, but Batty already has a firm idea of what ‘success’ for the Games looks like.

“A really successful Games is sold-out venues, amazing sport, world-class cultural programming and a real sense of celebration in the city. I’m confident Glasgow will deliver a spectacular Games in 2026.”