King Charles Opens 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow After Victoria's 2023 Withdrawal
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 23
King Charles Opens 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow After Victoria's 2023 Withdrawal
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 23
Summary
About 10,000 spectators watched King Charles III officially open the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, launching 10 days of competition involving more than 3,000 athletes and Para-athletes from 74 nations and territories.
Glasgow staged the ceremony after Victoria withdrew in 2023, reviving a Games some feared would collapse by repurposing 2014 venues and trimming the programme by eight sports.
King Charles — opening his first Commonwealth Games as Head of the Commonwealth — used his speech to thank Glasgow and urge action against plastic pollution in oceans and waterways.
The first medals will be awarded in Para-powerlifting on Friday, with the Games due to close on August 2 back at Glasgow's Hydro arena.