They have been running for 96 years, producing iconic moments such as Roger Bannister's win in the 'Miracle Mile' in 1954, Eilish McColgan breaking her mum's record in 2022 and England's netball victory four years earlier in Australia. But the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which open in Glasgow on Thursday, arrive at a moment of uncertainty for the event, after many questioned whether they would happen at all and, if they did, whether a stripped-back format would be enough to secure the Games' future.
The central questions now are how the Games reached this point, whether athletes and fans still care and what the event might look like in years to come.
At risk or future-proofed?
The 2026 Commonwealth Games were placed in doubt when the original hosts, the Australian state of Victoria, withdrew in 2023 because of spiraling costs. That move came as a surprise even to leaders of Commonwealth Sport.
After more than a year of uncertainty, Glasgow stepped in to host the Games for the second time, following its highly successful edition in 2014. But limited preparation time has meant the return to the Scottish city will be much smaller in scale.
There were competitions across 18 sports in 2014, rising to 20 at Birmingham 2022, but only 10 sports will feature this year. Around 2,000 fewer athletes are expected, no new stadiums have been built, and athletics has moved from Hampden Park, which seats 46,000, to Scotstoun Stadium, which holds just over 10,000.
Running costs have also been sharply reduced, falling from between £700m and £800m for Birmingham 2022 and the Gold Coast Games in 2018 to £160m for Glasgow.
Whether by accident or design, organisers say the result offers a model for the future. They argue that a smaller, cheaper and more sustainable Commonwealth Games can endure.
"I don't think we have ever been stronger," Katie Sadleir, chief executive of Commonwealth Sport, told .
"We took a hard look at ourselves and realised we needed to reset and reimagine this Games so it is an attractive proposition for our members."
Importantly, the Commonwealth Games have already secured Ahmedabad in India as host for 2030, when the number of sports is expected to rise to between 15 and 18. Several other countries have also shown interest in 2034, including New Zealand, which has done so publicly, while Nigeria remains interested after challenging Ahmedabad's bid for 2030.
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Do athletes still care?
Having begun in 1930 as the British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games continue to face questions about their relevance in the modern world.
England weightlifter Emily Campbell told the BBC the Games are "one of the best things that came out of colonisation" while three-time Olympic swimming gold medallist Tom Dean says they can be a "force for good" despite the difficult past.
"It is even more reason to push the Commonwealths into the spotlight because it shows the best side of sport," he told .
However, Glasgow's edition has been affected by the absence of several star names. Some withdrawals are due to injury, including Olympic gold-medal winning gymnast Max Whitlock and Australia's Olympic backstroke champion Kaylee McKeown.
Others have chosen to focus on different competitions. Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is skipping Glasgow in favour of the European Athletics Championships, which begin in Birmingham on 10 August and are arguably the bigger track and field event this summer. Dina Asher-Smith, the fastest British woman in history, Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred of St Lucia and Canadian swimming star Summer McIntosh are also absent.
Still, the Games are far from lacking in notable competitors.
Josh Kerr, fresh from breaking the mile world record, will return to home soil to race for Scotland, as will McColgan. Katerina Johnson-Thompson is targeting a third consecutive Commonwealth heptathlon title, and Adam Ramsay-Peaty returns to the same pool in which he won two golds in 2014.
The Commonwealth Games remain a major stage for sports such as netball, and the emphasis on Para-sport has also increased, making this the most integrated Games yet.
Six of the 10 sports include Para-competitions, with a Commonwealth Games record 47 medal events. Gold, silver and bronze medals in Para-events will count towards the overall medal table, unlike at other multi-sport events.
"There are not many opportunities for the integration of multi-sports [events]," Paralympic swimming champion Brock Whiston told .
"Without the Commonwealth Games, the smaller countries don't get the chance to show how powerful that integration is.
"The Commonwealth Games is vital to ensuring there are equal opportunities."
English swimmer James Guy, another Olympic champion who will compete at his fourth Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, said the event remains an important step in athlete development.
"It is a bit easier to make than the GB team," he said.
"It is a really good way to get on there, get on a relay and get a medal and that is really important for development so the younger guys and girls can progress."
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What about the fans?
As always, fan response will be a major factor in judging the Commonwealth Games' long-term prospects.
About 1.3 million tickets were sold in 2014, a total that will not be matched this time. Sales have been strongest for athletics and cycling, but tickets are still available across all sports during the 11 days of competition.
There is also a major broadcasting change in the UK this year. The BBC, which had shown 18 Commonwealth Games in a row, has been replaced by TNT Sports as the live television broadcaster, while the Games are also available on streaming service HBO Max.
BBC Radio 5 Live will still provide radio coverage, but there will be no free-to-air live TV coverage. That makes it harder to reach the general public at a crucial moment for the event.
The next 11 days will therefore be significant for the future of the Commonwealth Games.
