Host City is an annual conference where experts consider best practices in hosting major sports events. One key topic discussed at Host City 2024 was sustainability. On a panel entitled “Inspiring Action Through Major Events”, the panellists discussed the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - a landmark event that is attempting to redefine the way large-scale international events are delivered, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, social inclusion and the environment. This article considers the points made by the panel in light of recent literature to posit that more compact versions of mega sports events, with a focus on sustainability and engaging local communities, can be more financially viable and still deliver a lasting legacy:

• Towards a newer ‘compact’ version of the Commonwealth Games
• The importance of properly integrating with local communities
• How to strike a balance between local communities and global audience?
• Lessons learned and lessons shared: the importance of knowledge sharing

The panel comprised of:

• Katie Sadlier, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation,
• George Black, Chair of Glasgow 2026,
• James McVeigh, Head of Innovation and Marketing, Festivals Edinburgh

Towards a newer ‘compact’ version of the Commonwealth Games

Katie Sadlier set the tone for the conversation by describing the Commonwealth Games Federation's strategic rethinking of the Games' traditional model. Historically, hosting such a worldwide event has been a privilege often reserved for wealthier, major markets with significant infrastructural resources. The expectation in this model is that the city would be all-encompassing, able to carry the full burden of hosting. Sadlier said Glasgow 2026 will mark a new beginning in adopting co-hosting, where the costs will be shared among cities for financial sustainability and inclusion. The new approach envisions not only relaxing the barriers for emerging-market cities in their bids but also falls in line with the greater trend towards sustainable practices. Although Glasgow 2026 will be a single-city host, it will be a stepping stone toward the future. For Glasgow, this represents a serious commitment to devising a leaner, resource-conscious Games with long-term benefits for surrounding communities.

Sustainable urban development and the utilisation of existing facilities to create lasting benefits for host cities has become a key feature of host city bids since at least London’s 2012 Olympics.[1] However, central to Glasgow 2026’s sustainability agenda is its compact design, which significantly reduces logistical and environmental challenges. George Black elaborated on the innovative approach being adopted, calling it “the most compact Games ever”. ‘Compact’ in this sense means that the plan involves using just four venues, all situated within walking distance of one another. This not only minimizes operational costs but also drastically cuts down on the carbon footprint typically associated with transportation for participants, spectators, and staff. Social and environmental sustainability are interlinked," Black said. By decreasing the geographic footprint of the event, Glasgow 2026 is also encouraging much more community ownership and involvement.

The importance of properly integrating with local communities

The Commonwealth Games has faced significant challenges in recent years, with a variety of cities from Australia, Canada and South Africa since 2015 either withdrawing from bidding or hosting the Games. For Victoria, Australia, who withdrew from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games in 2023, the primary reason was cost overruns, with initial estimates of AU$2.6 billion surging to over AU$6 billion. Therefore, with an increasingly challenging financial landscape, the argument for slimmed-down games as providing a blueprint for survival has gained significant traction.[2] More compact versions of mega sports events utilise fewer venues and emphasise community ownership. Taks, Chalip, and Green explore how small- and medium-sized sporting events can positively affect local communities by leveraging existing infrastructure and fostering community engagement.[3] Their conceptual framework considers that local residents are more likely to participate in smaller events as spectators, volunteers, or organisers, thereby enhancing social cohesion and a sense of belonging. Adapting a similar framework to support mega sports events such as the Commonwealth Games therefore may prove fruitful.

James McVeigh, at the Host City panel, similarly advanced the "localism agenda," and stressed that host cities must look increasingly inward to set their priorities and exploit local strengths. Localism involves using existing venues, reducing the high costs and environmental impacts of building new infrastructure often witnessed in mega sports events. For McVeigh, major events are not solely about attracting international attention or increasing tourism; they are about making a tangible and lasting impact on the communities that host them. Localism means making the aims of the event compatible with the needs and aspirations of the host city. In Glasgow, for example, this engages issues of accessible housing, job creation, and improvements in public transport—things that will make a real difference to the local population. At the same time, however, McVeigh stressed that a locally focused event also needs an international dimension if the Games are to remain inspiring to a worldwide audience.

How to strike a balance between local communities and global audience?

This is, of course, not an easy balance to strike, and one which will vary dependent on the location and nature of the sporting event. Localism for a larger event will also mean mitigating detrimental impacts to the local population—avoiding a sense that it is being imposed. Infrastructure developments are pertinent to scrutinise in this context. Minimisation of disruption to residents in terms of their housing and ability to pursue their lives may be fundamental, allaying fears of similar negative experiences arising which were reported amongst local residents at Porto Alegre at the 2014 FIFA Men’s World Cup.[4] The current authors argue that engaging local residents from the early planning stages from the local community is vital. This aligns with long standing research, which argues that for urban regeneration efforts to be effective, they must explicitly focus on disadvantaged areas and actively seek community participation.[5]

All panel members agreed that for events such as the Commonwealth Games to succeed, they should balance local priorities with reaching new audiences and attracting diverse funding. This requires a clear vision and purpose that connects with local stakeholders and a wider network of partners, funders and viewers. McVeigh described this as "communicating inspiration": how the Games can be a vehicle for social change and community empowerment. This messaging helps attract international sponsors and media attention, whilst fostering a sense of shared ownership among stakeholders at all levels. It is likely that the most successful events of the future will be able to reach a suitable balance whereby a wide spectrum of interests—local, international, commercial and community-based, are adequately engaged.

Lessons learned and lessons shared: the importance of knowledge sharing

A long-term strategy of Glasgow 2026 is its focus on knowledge sharing. George Black emphasised that strong mechanisms for collecting and publishing data are required, which will be useful for future host cities to benchmark against. Such transparency will not only promote accountability but also align with a key International Association of Event Hosts’ (IAEH) objective: providing opportunities to share best practice from lessons learned. Black highlighted the need for metrics to cover financial expenditures, environmental impacts and community benefits.

There is little doubt that a leaner model of the Commonwealth Games will require specialised use of metrics and collaboration between stakeholders, as well as a willingness to rethink traditional approaches. Financial sustainability will need creative ideas for sharing costs and generating revenue, whilst still promoting accessibility. The compact design of the event appears efficient but could create limitations in terms of capacity and scalability, meaning that demand will need to be carefully managed.

Glasgow 2026 will represent a pertinent case study for compact design, sustainability and an application of the localism agenda. Glasgow’s role in collaboration, innovation and inspiration in supporting this version of the Games cannot be underestimated. How Glasgow responds to the challenge of balancing local community needs with the expectations of a global audience will be crucial.

About the authors: Alexander Chrysanthou is Senior Lecturer and Course Leader, BA (Hons) Sports Business and Sports Law at UCFB and Executive Committee Member of the International Association of Event Hosts; Sebastian Poulson is a third-year UCFB Sports Business & Sports Law student.

This article was first published on www.lawinsport.com

Reference List

FT, Glasgow’s slimmed-down Commonwealth Games provides blueprint for survival, 19 September 2024. Glasgow’s slimmed-down Commonwealth Games provides blueprint for survival

Graeff, B., & Giulianotti, R. (2024). Global sport mega-events and local community impacts: The case of housing and redevelopment in Porto Alegre at the 2014 Men’s World Cup finals in Brazil. Sport in Society, 1–17. Full article: Global sport mega-events and local community impacts: the case of housing and redevelopment in Porto Alegre at the 2014 Men’s World Cup finals in Brazil

Viehoff, V., & Poynter, G. (Eds.). (2015). Mega-event cities: Urban legacies of global sports Events. Routledge.

Smith, A. (2012). Events and urban regeneration: The strategic use of events to revitalise cities. Routledge.

Taks, M., Chalip, L., & Green, B. C. (2015). Impacts and strategic outcomes from non-mega sport events for local communities. European Sport Management Quarterly, 15(1), 1–6. scholar.uwindsor.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1022&context=humankineticspub