Glasgow set to welcome the world for scaled back Commonwealth Games

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Josh Kerr broke the mile world record last weekend, which had stood since 1999 By Paul O'Hare BBC Scotland Published 45 minutes ago When the fastest man on the planet won Commonwealth relay gold for Jamaica in 2014, more than 50,000 fans cheered him home at Hampden. But the athletes seeking to emulate Usain Bolt when the Games return to Glasgow - including mile world record holder Josh Kerr - will be competing at Scotstoun Stadium in front of 11,000 spectators. This time round almost everything is on a smaller scale but organisers are confident fans will create a Tartan Army-style atmosphere for the 3,000 competitors who will be chasing glory. From Friday until 2 August, 215 gold medals will be up for grabs - compared to 261 when Scotland last staged the Games - but Glasgow 2026 will see a record 47 para-sports events . Image source, PA Media Image caption, The Hydro will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games The action gets under way with bowls and para-bowls heats at 09:30, but the Games will be officially opened by King Charles during a ceremony at the Hydro later. It will be attended by athletes from 74 nations and territories as well as dignitaries including Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney and the First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth. Some of the 4,000 Games volunteers, aged 16 to 96, will also take part in the celebration. Why is Glasgow hosting the Games? Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Matthew Dixon, of England, competes in the Men's 10m platform preliminaries during the 2014 Commonwealth Games Glasgow stepped in when the Australian state of Victoria pulled out of hosting the Games in July 2023. It had only agreed to stage the event in April 2022 after the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) struggled to find a host. Organisers had originally estimated the event would cost A$2.6bn (£1.35bn) and the state government had billed it as a boost for the regions. But the projected bill soared to more than A$6 billion (£3.11bn). Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the new figure was "more than twice the estimated economic benefit" it would bring to the state. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt was the star attraction when Glasgow last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014 The decision not only plunged the future of the 2026 edition into doubt but the Games as whole. But in September 2024 a deal, backed by the Scottish government, was agreed for Glasgow to host "a scaled back, but high-quality" event . It will be staged across four venues along an eight-mile stretch - Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow International Arena and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). In 2014 the budget for the Games was £543m but no public money has been spent on the 23rd edition, which will cost £150m in total. The CGF is investing £100m of this, with the remainder coming from comme