Commonwealth Games: Glasgow 2026 bid has ‘reputational and financial’ risk

In response, Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray insisted discussions had “intensified” between themselves, the UK government and leading Commonwealth Games figures and that a final decision would be made “in the coming weeks”.

However, he cautioned that there were significant issues still to consider before agreeing to bring the Games back to Glasgow 12 years after it last staged them.

“It is precisely because we understand the potential benefits, as well as the importance to elite sport in Scotland, that we continue to consider this,” Gray said at Holyrood. “However, there are risks that we need to bottom out.

“It’s a new concept, it’s untested, the figures we are being quoted are ambitious, so we need to be mindful of that.

“This is not a replica of the 2014 Games. This is a smaller version, with fewer sports over fewer sites, so therefore there is a reputation risk as well as financial risk.

“Glasgow and Scotland have an international reputation for hosting major events incredibly successfully, so we need to make sure this concept is right.

“Every passing day makes delivering the event more challenging and that is one of the questions around risk, whether this can be achieved in the time available.”