Channel Island joy at Commonwealth Games decision
Jersey sent a team of 27 athletes, who competed across eight sports, to Birmingham 2022
- Published
Channel Island sports people said they are pleased Glasgow will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Scottish city will take on a scaled-down version of the games after reaching an agreement for "a multi-million pound investment" from Australian authorities after Victoria pulled out of hosting the event.
There will be no athlete’s village and any opening and closing ceremonies are expected to be scaled back with 10 sports planned across four venues.
"We're very happy now that we've got a games for 2026," Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey president Paul Huddlestone said.
"It's the pinnacle of sport for Jersey on the world stage.
"We've already had contact from one or two athletes that are now starting to focus themselves for 2026.
"We don't know much detail yet, all we know is they've secured the games in Glasgow and we wait to hear, more importantly, what sports will get involved," he told BBC Radio Jersey.
Lucy Beere's silver at lawn bowls ended a 30-year wait for a Guernsey medal
One of those athletes waiting nervously is Guernsey bowler Lucy Beere.
She won silver in Birmingham two years ago - Guernsey's first medal at the Commonwealth Games since 1994.
But with only athletics and swimming guaranteed to take place it has left her feeling nervous.
"I'm excited and a little bit apprehensive," she told BBC Radio Guernsey.
"Obviously, they still haven't announced the sports so I'm trying to contain the excitement until we know what games are going to be in there."
Alastair Chalmers' 400m hurdles bronze medal propelled him on to the recent Olympic Games in Paris
Compatriot Alastair Chalmers will likely be representing the island in Glasgow in two years time.
The 400m hurdler won Guernsey's first-ever athletics medal when he took bronze in Birmingham and went on to make the semi-finals at the Olympic Games earlier this summer.
He is pleased that the event will be close to home, allowing friends and family the chance to support him as he eyes Guernsey's first gold medal since Adrian Breton won pistol shooting gold in Auckland in 1990.
"For it to be in a home nation kind of a thing for Guernsey athletes is lovely," Chalmers told BBC Radio Guernsey.
"We can have friends and family there and Glasgow did a great job back in 2014 so I'm sure they'll deliver again.
"It's such an amazing thing that it's going ahead and to put on the Guernsey kit again will be an absolute honour. I can't wait to get out there and put the kit on."