Commonwealth Games 2026: The 23rd Commonwealth Games 2026 has started from today in Glasgow city of Scotland. The 10-day multi-sport event, which runs till August 2, will see more than 3,000 athletes from 74 countries and territories compete for 1,168 medals in 215 events across 10 sports. 125 players will challenge from India in 8 sports. This time many popular sports like shooting, hockey, cricket, badminton and wrestling are not included, yet many medals are expected from the Indian contingent.
Glasgow becomes host for the second time, the world’s eyes are on this event
Commonwealth Games 2026 is being organized in Glasgow city of Scotland. Earlier in 2014 also, Glasgow had successfully hosted these games. This time the competitions will be organized in four major sports complexes of the city. The opening ceremony will be held at the OVO Hydro Arena, where players from Commonwealth countries will march past and colorful cultural programs will also be presented. The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is being organized as a small and low-cost event (Compact Games Model). In view of the challenges and increasing costs of hosting after 2022, the organizers decided to limit the number of games. For this reason only 10 sports have been included in the programme.
125 Indian players will show their strength in 8 sports
This time India has reached Glasgow with a team of 125 players. Indian players will participate in eight sports including athletics, boxing, weightlifting, swimming, cycling, gymnastics, lawn bowls and para sports. The biggest responsibility of the Indian contingent will be on those players who have consistently performed well at the international level in the last years. Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu and world champion boxer Lovlina Borgohain will be the flag bearers of the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony.
This time there are not many popular sports, India may suffer loss
The biggest change for Glasgow 2026 is that sports like shooting, hockey, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis and squash are not part of the programme. India’s performance in these games has always been excellent. India has won the maximum number of medals especially in shooting and wrestling. In such a situation, the absence of these games may have an impact on the Indian medal tally.
Commonwealth Games started in 1930
The history of the Commonwealth Games goes back almost a century. It started in 1930 in the city of Hamilton, Canada under the name of British Empire Games. Only about 400 players from 11 countries participated in the first edition. The scope of these games increased with time. In 1954 it was renamed the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. In 1970 it became the British Commonwealth Games and since 1978 it has been known as the Commonwealth Games. These games are organized every four years.
India’s journey started from 1934, 564 medals till now
India first participated in the 1934 Commonwealth Games. At that time only six Indian players had participated in the competition. In the same edition, wrestler Rashid Anwar gave India its first medal in the Commonwealth Games by winning the bronze medal. India has participated in almost all editions since 1934 except in 1930, 1950, 1962 and 1986. Till now, India has a total of 564 medals in its account, which includes 203 gold, 189 silver and 172 bronze medals. India is counted among the most successful countries in the Commonwealth Games.
What’s new in Commonwealth Games 2026?
This time many new experiments have been done in the event.
The biggest change is the return of the Commonwealth Mile in athletics. This competition is being organized for the first time since 1966. In this, players will run one mile i.e. 1.609 kilometers instead of 1500 meters. Apart from this, para sports have been widely included in six sports this time. It is being considered as the biggest para sports event in the history of Commonwealth Games.
Glasgow’s identity will be visible in the special design of the medal
The design of the Glasgow 2026 medals is also under discussion. These are created by award-winning designer Militsa Milenkova. The medal depicts Glasgow’s historic sites, industrial heritage and cultural identity. For the first time, braille and tactile elements have also been added to the medals. So that they can be made special for visually impaired players also. Which is being considered a big step towards the feeling of including everyone.
Where and how can you watch live matches?
The Commonwealth Games 2026 in India will be telecast live on various TV channels of Sony Sports Network. Whereas online viewers will be able to watch live streaming of the matches through Sony Liv app and website. Telecast of many major competitions will also be available on DD Sports.
India eyes a great start
This time many sports in which India has traditionally been strong are not included in the programme. Still, the Indian contingent is expected to perform well in athletics, boxing, weightlifting and para sports.
This time, Glasgow 2026 is being considered more than just a competition to win medals, it is an important platform for Indian players to prepare for the next big international events.