The stadium shall be host to the athletics throughout the scaled-back model of the Commonwealth Video games
With the 2026 Commonwealth Video games formally set for Glasgow, Scotstoun is poised to take centre stage because it hosts the athletics within the scaled-back occasion.
Recognized for its distinctive blue monitor, the stadium plans to develop its present capability from 4765 to accommodate between 10,000-11,000 spectators with non permanent seating.
The choice to host the Video games in Glasgow comes after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew attributable to rising prices.
Glasgow 2026 will stage monitor and subject however no marathons
Glasgow has a robust monitor file in internet hosting the occasion, having efficiently managed the Video games in 2014 with the athletics going down at Hampden.
Hampden accommodated 40,000 athletics followers whereas the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham welcomed 30,000 for the Video games in 2022.
Scotstoun’s extra intimate setting shall be a novel environment because the smaller model of the Video games shall be distinctly completely different.
Scotstoun Stadium (Getty)
AW spoke with Jon Doig OBE, the Chief Govt of the Commonwealth Video games Federation Scotland on the official launch of the Video games in Glasgow. He stated: “Now we have been engaged on this for just below 12 months, wanting over it by way of the idea and if we might undergo and ship it.
“The earliest factor we had to take a look at was athletics and whether or not we might ship athletics in Scotstoun Stadium and the reply we received again by way of feasibility was sure.
“Now we have clearly already received a major stand at Scotstoun however the remainder of the seats shall be wrapped round with non permanent seating.
“The non permanent seating will take the quantity to 10,000-11,000 and in that side we are able to create a completely good environment when the athletes are competing and working round.”
Dwain Chambers (Getty)
The stadium holds a historic legacy in athletics that dates again to the late Eighteen Nineties, when it first hosted cross nation occasions.
From 1903 to 1913, the Scottish Nationwide Cross Nation Championships passed off yearly at Scotstoun, except 1907, once they have been held in Portobello, Edinburgh.
It has additionally been the house of Victoria Park AAC since its basis in 1930.
Since its renovation with the all-weather monitor within the mid-90s, the stadium has hosted quite a few prestigious occasions.
The British Milers’ Membership held grand prix conferences on the stadium in 1999, 2000 and 2001, attracting prime athletes from throughout the UK.
Worldwide occasions have been additionally held, together with in 2000 when Nice Britain & Northern Eire took on the USA, in 2003 it was Nice Britain & Northern Eire v USA v Russia and, in 2005, the identical three nations challenged one another once more.
The stadium additionally welcomed the Scottish Senior Championships from 2001 to 2007, together with numerous different competitions, together with the Mixed Occasions Championships (2002) and the Masters Championships (2006).
The final main occasion that was held on the Glasgow stadium was the Norwich Union Glasgow Grand Prix in 2007. In 2014 the stadium was used as a coaching venue for the Commonwealth Video games.
Kelly Holmes (Getty)
At the moment, Scotstoun stays the house of Victoria Park AAC, however it additionally shares the house with Glasgow Warriors rugby membership, which has taken a outstanding function in recent times.
The deal with rugby has restricted the staging of large-scale occasions, because the Warriors require unique entry for his or her fixtures, usually organising non permanent stands on the monitor.
Nonetheless, the announcement of Scotstoun because the host for the 2026 Commonwealth Video games might signify a shift on this development. As Doig says: “Scotstoun has a really lengthy historical past of athletics and it has been there for over 100 years in several methods and internet hosting worldwide occasions.
“It’s nice that we are able to deliver athletics again to the stadium and hopefully we can depart a legacy there as effectively for athletics.
“Will probably be a very completely different Video games in comparison with 2014, we’re in several occasions however it is going to nonetheless be thrilling and a world-class occasion. It is a reset and re-imagination.
“This won’t solely encourage the athletes who’re competing to get good performances however it is going to additionally encourage the kids who shall be within the crowds feeling impressed.
“We’ve had quite a lot of our athletes that have been within the stands in 2014 now making Scottish and GB groups so we stay up for that stimulus being there sooner or later.”
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The submit Glasgow 2026 to spice up Scotstoun’s athletics legacy appeared first on AW.
