Hockey, diving and cricket are among the sports that have been axed for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Only 10 sports have been included on the stripped-back programme, half the number of Birmingham 2022, after Glasgow agreed to step in as hosts providing costs were kept to a minimum.
Athletics, boxing, bowls, cycling, gymnastics, judo, netball, swimming, weightlifting and 3×3 basketball are on the 2026 schedule, with six of those featuring fully integrated para competitions.
Only four venues will be used – the Emirates Arena, Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre and the Scottish Event Campus.
There will be an opening and closing ceremony but there will be no marathon or cycling road race. The other sports that have been dropped entirely are badminton, beach volleyball, rugby sevens, squash, table tennis, triathlon and wrestling.
Glasgow will play host to 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games as the event returns to the city 12 years after it staged the Games in 2014
10 popular sports have been axed from the Commonwealth Games for 2026
Team sport hockey has also been culled as event organisers streamline the sports on offer
Glasgow last held the Games in 2014 but offered to do so again after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year following spiralling costs.
The budget for the scaled-back 2026 event is only £114million, way down on the £543m spent in 2014, with around £100m of that coming from compensation paid by Victoria to the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Of the 10 sports that have been axed, the omission of hockey is the most controversial as a national hockey centre was built in Glasgow for the 2014 Games. Hockey has been included in every event since 1998, with England’s women famously winning their first gold in Birmingham two years ago.
A spokesperson for England Hockey told Mail Sport: ‘We are disappointed that hockey will not be included in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, a decision that overlooks a sport with a proud history and strong presence across Commonwealth nations.
‘We have a long history of success at the Commonwealth Games and we know that our athletes have loved being part of their home nation teams. We will miss being part of the action but understand that tough decisions have to be made.
‘We remain hopeful and confident that future organisers will restore hockey to the Games, where it has long thrived and inspired.’
Explaining why hockey has been axed, Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Ian Reid said: ‘Hockey would be an additional venue and a huge number of athletes that we would have to accommodate.
‘You can imagine the balance we’re trying to weigh up, between trying to use the minimum number of venues to keep costs down, looking at home nations success and the number of athletes.’
Commonwealth organisers have decided to cut the popular Rugby Sevens even from their offering
A total of 3,000 athletes from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories are expected at Glasgow 2026 – almost 2,000 fewer than at Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022.
‘When we started pulling this concept together just under a year ago, our focus was on creating a Games that was different – that could be delivered to the highest quality, in the short time frame, in a financially sustainable way,’ said Jon Doig, chief executive of Commonwealth Games Scotland.
‘Glasgow 2026 will have all the drama, passion and joy that we know the Commonwealth Games delivers even if it is to be lighter and leaner than some previous editions.’
CGF chief executive Katie Sadleir added: ‘With the reassuring legacy of Glasgow 2014 providing existing sporting, transport and accommodation infrastructure, and world-class venues and expertise, we look forward to working with the Glasgow team to deliver a very special Commonwealth Games in 2026.’