Having begun in 1930 as the British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games face questions about their place and relevance in the modern world.
England weightlifter Emily Campbell told the the Games are “one of the best things that came out of colonisation” while three-time Olympic swimming gold medallist Tom Dean insists they can be a “force for good” despite the difficult past.
“It is even more reason to push the Commonwealths into the spotlight because it shows the best side of sport,” he told Sport.
However, the Glasgow edition has been hit by the absence of star names.
Injuries, such as those to Olympic gold-medal winning gymnast Max Whitlock and Australia’s Olympic backstroke champion Kaylee McKeown, are unavoidable and unfortunate.
But other athletes have opted to prioritise different events.
Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is skipping Glasgow in favour of the European Athletics Championships, which start in Birmingham on 10 August and are arguably the bigger track and field event this summer.
Dina Asher-Smith, the fastest British woman in history, is only competing in the relay in Glasgow and Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred of St Lucia has also pulled out. Canadian swimming superstar Summer McIntosh is another notable absentee.
But it is not all doom and gloom.
Josh Kerr, fresh from breaking the mile world record, will return to home soil to race for Scotland, as will McColgan.
Katerina Johnson-Thompson is chasing her third Commonwealth heptathlon title in a row and Adam Ramsay-Peaty returns to the same pool in which he won two golds in 2014.
The Commonwealth Games remain a pinnacle for sports like netball and there is also an increased focus on Para-sport, with this the most integrated Games ever.
Six of the 10 sports include Para-competitions with a Commonwealth Games record 47 medal events. Golds, silvers and bronzes won in Para-events will, unlike with other multi-sport events, count towards the overall medal total.
“There are not many opportunities for the integration of multi-sports [events],” Paralympic swimming champion Brock Whiston told Sport.
“Without the Commonwealth Games, the smaller countries don’t get the chance to show how powerful that integration is.
“The Commonwealth Games is vital to ensuring there are equal opportunities.”
English swimmer James Guy, another Olympic champion who will be at his fourth Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, told Sport the event remains a crucial part of an athlete’s development.
“It is a bit easier to make than the GB team,” he said.
“It is a really good way to get on there, get on a relay and get a medal and that is really important for development so the younger guys and girls can progress.”
