Bowls Scotland statement on proposed Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Bowls Scotland welcomes the news that the Commonwealth Games is set to be staged in Glasgow in 2026.

We congratulate Commonwealth Games Scotland for finding an innovative solution, using existing facilities and infrastructure for the 2026 concept, aligning with the Commonwealth Games Federation’s strategy to make the Games more accessible for future hosts. The event will be a stripped-down version of the previous Glasgow 2014 Games, with just 10 sports taking place across four venues, this is down from the 19 sports that were contested at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Bowls has been one of the core sports since the Commonwealth Games’ inception in 1930. Scotland have won an incredible 21 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze medals in this time, making it one of the nation’s most successful sports. It provides inspiration and a lifelong goal for Scotland’s most talented bowlers as well as a sense of pride and togetherness within the 800 clubs and 50,000 individual members in the Scottish bowls community.

As one of its member nations, Bowls Scotland has long been in close and regular communication with World Bowls, in regard to its discussions with the Commonwealth Games Federation for 2026, and in championing all of the following:

• Bowls, as one of just six founding member sports of the Commonwealth Games, has played a pivotal role in shaping and showcasing the Commonwealth Games movement over the last 94 years.
• Bowls epitomises inclusivity and equality in sport, leading the way with combined open and para competitions, with gender equity, and Commonwealth Games medallists across a wide range of ages.
• Bowls being a Commonwealth Games only sport with new, exciting format and delivery options, including outdoors or indoors and on temporary surfaces if required.
• Bowls being heavily participated in by bigger and smaller Commonwealth nations alike.
• Bowls being a storied part of Scotland’s rich Commonwealth Games history.

We eagerly await further announcements on which sports will be included in the 2026 programme and will continue to do whatever possible and necessary behind the scenes, in supporting World Bowls, to make our inclusion become a reality.