Australia's Cooper steps down from leadership group after Commonwealth Games no-show

Glasgow has been hailed for rescuing and reimagining the Commonwealth Games, three years after its fate was uncertain. As the city prepares to hand over the Commonwealth flag to Amdavad (Ahmedabad), India, for the centenary event in 2030, Phil Batty, the man behind Glasgow 2026, reflected on the city's role in saving and reinventing the event.

Batty emphasized that Glasgow had created a Games that would inspire other nations to host, and that every nation could potentially host one day. The closing ceremony featured a dazzling fireworks display over the River Clyde, with Simple Minds performing "Alive and Kicking" as a fitting tribute to the event that was once on the brink of collapse.

Despite the loss of reigning 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan to a foot injury, new heroes emerged for the host nation, with swimmer Angharad Evans winning two golds, a silver, and a bronze. Scottish para-cyclist Neil Fachie won his seventh gold medal, while Wales' Emma Finucane became the first sprint cyclist to win four track gold medals at the same Games.

The event, which was less than half the cost of previous editions, used existing venues and infrastructure, while also setting new records in various sports. The Games attracted over 430,000 spectators and marked a significant milestone for the Commonwealth movement, with First Minister John Swinney describing the Scottish performance as "truly historic."