Athletics Australia supports Glasgow’s bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Athletics Australia is proud to join Commonwealth Games Australia in supporting Glasgow’s bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

AA President Jane Flemming said she is thrilled to see Glasgow emerge as a prospective host city, with the Commonwealth Games standing strong as a critical event for athletes on the high-performance pathway to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The Commonwealth Games is a unique sporting event for all Australians. Not only has it long played a role in uniting the Australian community through the power of sport, it has been a stepping stone for many athletes in their careers including the likes of gold medallists Catherine Freeman, Steve Hooker, Sally Pearson and Nina Kennedy,” Flemming said.

“The event has also been instrumental in the development of Australian athletics and other sports that rely on opportunities like this major meet in order to grow.”

The Commonwealth Games provides one of five pinnacle event opportunities outlined in Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy, and holds much significance for Australian athletics in building momentum from the Paris 2024 Games.

“With our junior athletes having finished the World Under 20 Championships as the most successful Australian team in history, the Commonwealth Games as their next logical step, will also be key to ensuring the success of the nation at the Brisbane 2032 Games.”

Australia has a rich history at the Commonwealth Games, with the Australian Athletics Team finishing as the number one nation at both the Birmingham 2022 and Gold Coast 2018 Games.

Athletics Australia would like to thank Commonwealth Games Australia, and in particular President Ben Houston and CEO Craig Phillips whose contribution announced last week has contributed to this progression, and we look forward to working closely with Commonwealth Games Australia once the Glasgow Games are formally announced.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 18/9/2024