{"id":538090,"date":"2026-07-22T06:00:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T06:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/538090\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T06:00:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T06:00:15","slug":"glasgow-commonwealth-games-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/538090\/","title":{"rendered":"Glasgow Commonwealth Games: What you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Olympics are undoubtedly the pinnacle for most sports, but the Commonwealth Games fill a crucial role in an athlete\u2019s high-performance pathway, often acting as a more realistic stepping stone to bigger and better things.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know about the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.<\/p>\n

\"SirSir John Walker chases Tanzanian Filbert Bayi to a world 1500m record at Christchurch 1974. Photo \/ Tony Duffy, Allsport<\/p>\n

History<\/p>\n

The Commonwealth Games are scheduled every four years between Olympics, bringing together the nations traditionally under British rule.<\/p>\n

The event began in 1930 as the British Empire Games, changed to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1950 and changed again to the British Commonwealth Games in 1966.<\/p>\n

Since 1978, the multi-sport festival has been known as the Commonwealth Games, also referred to as the \u201cFriendly Games\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Games grew out of the 1911 Inter-Empire Championship, contested by Australasia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom to celebrate the coronation of George V.<\/p>\n

The first British Empire Games were staged at Hamilton, Ontario and attended by 11 countries, with 400 athletes across athletics, boxing, bowls, rowing, swimming, diving and wrestling. Women competed only in aquatic events.<\/p>\n

Only six countries have attended every Commonwealth Games \u2013 New Zealand, Australia, Canada, England, Scotland and Wales \u2013 and only the first four have won gold medals at each.<\/p>\n

\"AnAn aerial view of the opening ceremony of the IV British Empire Games at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, February 4, 1950. Photo \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Nine countries have hosted the Games, with Australia (5), Canada (4), New Zealand (3), England (3) and Scotland (3) doing so more than once.<\/p>\n

Auckland and Edinburgh have staged the event twice, while Glasgow will join them in 2026.<\/p>\n

Australia has won the most gold medals, topping 1000 at Birmingham 2022, followed by England (773), Canada (510), India (203) and New Zealand (179).<\/p>\n

Glasgow 2026<\/p>\n

The Games have landed in the Scottish city of Glasgow for the second time in just 12 years, through a comedy of errors and indecision.<\/p>\n

Hosting rights for 2022 were originally awarded to Durban, South Africa, but when it was stripped of those rights, due to financial concerns, Birmingham moved its bid ahead four years, leaving 2026 vacant.<\/p>\n

Initially, the Australian state of Victoria accepted that responsibility and intended to spread sports across its territory, instead of concentrated on one city. Twelve months late, the state government got cold feet, citing cost escalations, and cancelled the Games.<\/p>\n

Several other options were explored, including London, Gold Coast, Malaysia, Singapore and Accra (Ghana), but ultimately, Glasgow took on the hosting role, reusing many of the venues from the 2014 Games.<\/p>\n

\"GlasgowGlasgow Commonwealth Games medals will feature braille. Photo \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Four years ago, the Birmingham Games featured 20 sports across 15 venues, but Glasgow will feature a cut-back programme, consisting of just 10 sports.<\/p>\n

Many of those dropped were disciplines where New Zealand had historically succeeded, including rugby sevens, hockey, triathlon, road cycling, cricket and squash.<\/p>\n

Surviving sports will also undergo some notable changes \u2013 bowls will be contested indoors for the first time, while the men\u2019s and women\u2019s 1500m will revert back to the mile, 60 years after the imperial distance was last raced at the Games.<\/p>\n

All 74 Commonwealth nations are expected to attend, with African nations Gabon and Togo making their debuts. Australia and England will field the biggest teams (264), with hosts Scotland (173), Canada (149), India (124), New Zealand (114), Wales (114) and South Africa (112) sending more than 100 athletes.<\/p>\n

The Glasgow opening ceremony is scheduled for 6am Friday, July 24 (NZT) at the OVO Hydro indoor arena, headlined by Scottish singer\/songwriter K.T. Tunstall, and the programme will run until Monday, August 3.<\/p>\n

In New Zealand, events can be viewed on Sky Sport or free to air on Three.<\/p>\n

NZ at Commonwealth Games<\/p>\n

New Zealand is one of only nine nations to attend every edition of the Games and one of only six to win gold medals at each.<\/p>\n

New Zealand athletes have claimed 706 medals over the 23 instalments, consisting of 179 gold, 232 silver and 296 bronze. The country ranks fourth in total medals and fifth in gold.<\/p>\n

Athletics has been our most successful sport, producing 142 medals and 39 gold, ahead of cycling (131\/35) and swimming (94\/24).<\/p>\n

Shooter Greg Yelavich claimed 12 medals across six Games from 1986-2010, while thrower Val Young won five gold medals in shot put and discus, more than any other Kiwi.<\/p>\n

\"NewNew Zealand’s Aaron Gate celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the men’s 160km road race at the Commonwealth Games. <\/p>\n

New Zealand\u2019s most successful event in terms of medals is the men\u2019s cycling road race, which has produced four gold, nine silver and four bronze. The men\u2019s 1500m\/mile has yielded three gold, four silver and five bronze.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s shot put and cycling individual pursuit, and men\u2019s rugby sevens, have produced five gold medals each.<\/p>\n

New Zealand has hosted the Games three times \u2013 Auckland 1950, Christchurch 1974 and Auckland 1990, and our biggest medal haul came at Auckland 1990, when we claimed 58 medals and 17 gold.<\/p>\n

New Zealand at Glasgow<\/p>\n

New Zealand\u2019s team of 114 named for Glasgow 2026 consists of 21 athletes, 19 cyclists, 13 swimmers, 12 bowlers, eight judokas, seven boxers, weightlifters and gymnasts, and teams of netball and men\u2019s and women\u2019s 3×3 basketball.<\/p>\n

This New Zealand team are the smallest since Brisbane 1982, when we sent 112, and less than half the size of the team who attended Birmingham 2022.<\/p>\n

The Glasgow team feature 44 athletes who competed at Birmingham four years ago. Chef de mission Nigel Avery is a former Commonwealth Games weightlifting champion.<\/p>\n

Medal contenders in each sport include:<\/p>\n

Athletics<\/p>\n

Geordie Beamish \u2013 reigning world steeplechase champion and former world indoor 1500m champion<\/p>\n

Anna Grimaldi \u2013 three-time Paralympic gold medallist in long jump and 200m<\/p>\n

Imogen Ayris \u2013 2022 pole vault bronze medallist and world indoor bronze medallist<\/p>\n

Hamish Kerr \u2013 reigning Olympic, world, world indoor and Commonwealth Games high jump champion<\/p>\n

\"HamishHamish Kerr celebrates his world high jump title. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n

Eliza McCartney \u2013 former Olympic pole vault bronze medallist, world indoor and Commonwealth Games silver medallist<\/p>\n

Ethan Olivier \u2013 reigning world junior triple jump champion<\/p>\n

Tom Walsh \u2013 twice Commonwealth Games shot put champion, former world champion and four-time world indoor champion<\/p>\n

\"JackoJacko Gill (right) took gold from Tom Walsh (left) at the 2011 Under-19 New Zealand Track and Field Championships. Gill is injured and won’t be competing in Glasgow, but Walsh will. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n

3×3 Basketball<\/p>\n

Men (Josh Book, Te Tuhi Lewis, Christian Martin, Aidan Tonge) \u2013 reigning Asia Cup champions<\/p>\n

Track cycling<\/p>\n

Ellesse Andrews \u2013 defending Commonwealth Games sprint, team sprint and keirin champion, reigning Olympic sprint and keirin champion<\/p>\n

Devon Briggs \u2013 two-time world para-cycling time trial and scratch race champion<\/p>\n

\"DevonDevon Briggs celebrates at the 2024 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships. Photo \/ Marco Antonio Teixeira \/ CBC<\/p>\n

Tom Sexton \u2013 reigning Commonwealth Games team pursuit champion, 2022 individual pursuit silver medallist<\/p>\n

Bryony Botha \u2013 former world omnium and elimination race champion, 2024 Olympic team pursuit silver medallist and omnium bronze medallist<\/p>\n

\"BryonyBryony Botha will be on the track for New Zealand. Photo \/ @bryony_botha<\/p>\n

Emily Shearman \u2013 Olympic, Commonwealth Games and world team pursuit silver medallist<\/p>\n

Judo<\/p>\n

Kody Andrews \u2013 2022 Commonwealth Games +100kg silver medallist<\/p>\n

Moira de Villiers \u2013 eight-time Oceania champion, 2022 Commonwealth Games 78kg bronze medallist, 2014 Glasgow 70kg silver medallist<\/p>\n

\"MoiraMoira de Villiers is an eight-time Oceania champion judoka. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n

Sydnee Andrews \u2013 2022 Commonwealth Games +78kg bronze medallist<\/p>\n

Bowls<\/p>\n

Shannon McIlroy \u2013 former world singles and team champion<\/p>\n

\"NewNew Zealand triples second bowler Shannon McIlroy in action during a match against Brunei. Photo \/ Brett Phibbs<\/p>\n

Ali Forsyth \u2013 three-time world fours and team champion<\/p>\n

Mark Noble \u2013 two-time Commonwealth Games parasport triples silver medallist<\/p>\n

Tayla Bruce \u2013 former world singles and team champion, 2022 Commonwealth Games fours and triples bronze medallist<\/p>\n

Katelyn Inch \u2013 former world team champion, 2022 Commonwealth Games pairs bronze medallist<\/p>\n

Selina Goddard \u2013 former world team champion, three-time Commonwealth Games bronze medallist<\/p>\n

Netball<\/p>\n

Silver Ferns \u2013 two-time Commonwealth Games champions, three-time silver medallists and 2022 bronze medallists, five-time world champions<\/p>\n

Swimming<\/p>\n

\"LewisLewis Clareburt captured double gold at Birmingham. Photo \/ Jason Oxenham <\/p>\n

Lewis Clareburt \u2013 defending Commonwealth Games 200m butterfly and 400m medley champion, former world 400m medley champion<\/p>\n

Erika Fairweather \u2013 former world 400m freestyle champion, 200m freestyle silver medallist<\/p>\n

Cameron Gray \u2013 2022 Commonwealth Games 50m butterfly bronze medallist<\/p>\n

Josh Willmer \u2013 reigning Commonwealth Games para-swimming 100m breaststroke champion<\/p>\n

Weightlifting<\/p>\n

David Liti \u2013 former Commonwealth Games +105kg champion, 2022 +109kg silver medallist, four-time Oceania champion.<\/p>\n

\"DavidDavid Liti took weightlifting silver at the Birmingham Games. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Olympics are undoubtedly the pinnacle for most sports, but the Commonwealth Games fill a crucial role in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":538091,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[99105,51038,6489,33611,2347,6036,5971,111,139,69,213,61,6923,197],"class_list":["post-538090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-chapman","tag-commonwealth","tag-games","tag-glasgow","tag-grant","tag-know","tag-need","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-sports","tag-to","tag-what","tag-you"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/538090","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=538090"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/538090\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/538091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=538090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=538090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=538090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}