Commonwealth Games change 'huge loss' for Guernsey

Alastair Chalmers won Guernsey's first-ever Commonwealth Games athletics medal at the 2022 event in Birmingham

The reduction of the Commonwealth Games 2026 programme to 10 sports is a "huge loss" for Guernsey athletes, according to the chair of the island's Games association.

A stripped-back programme has been announced for the next Games, after Glasgow stepped in to host the event when the Australian state of Victoria pulled out due to rising costs.

Hockey, squash, cricket, rugby sevens, road cycling, table tennis, triathlon and diving are among the sports cut.

"With fewer sports it is disappointing for many Guernsey athletes who will not have the opportunity in 2026 to compete at a multi-cultural and multi-sport event," said Angela Stuart, chair of the Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association.

"A Commonwealth Games is the highest level a Guernsey athlete can compete, so missing out on this quadrennial event is a huge loss in their sporting calendar."

Guernsey won two medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Bowler Lucy Beere won a silver medal in the women's singles and Alastair Chalmers won bronze in the 400m hurdles - the islands first-ever athletics medal.

Both athletics and para-athletics - track and field only - and bowls and para-bowls are among the 10 sports chosen for the Games, which will take place across four venues between 23 July and 2 August 2026.

Artistic gymnastics, track cycling and para-track cycling, netball, weightlifting and para-powerlifting, boxing, judo and 3x3 basketball and 3x3 wheelchair basketball complete the programme.

"The CGF [Commonwealth Games Federation] believes that this new Games model will lead the way for others to follow to enable all Commonwealth Countries and Nations to host future Games," Stuart said.

"A new model Games will involve change that we will embrace to support athletes in the sports included."