Sir Chris Hoy has called on Scots to channel the same passion shown by the Tartan Army at the World Cup into next week's Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The cycling legend, who is battling terminal prostate cancer, revealed he will take part in the opening ceremony at the OVO Hydro.
Hoy Calls for Tartan Army Spirit
Speaking to the Daily Record, Hoy said the World Cup atmosphere can inspire the Games. "Football is the international sport that everybody follows around the world. It's the biggest sport in the world, but this is our chance. As smaller sports, the Commonwealth Games, the Olympic Games, are the chance for Scotland to really shine," he said.
The stripped-back Games, running from July 23 to August 2, features just 10 sports across four venues with a budget of around £150 million. In contrast, the 2014 Glasgow Games included 18 sports and cost four times as much. Glasgow stepped in after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to rising costs.
Confidence in Glasgow's Hosting Ability
Hoy insisted the 2026 edition can match the success of 2014. "I believe Glasgow put on the greatest Commonwealth Games that I've ever seen. Everything about it was fantastic," he said. He recalled the public support: "Glaswegians are so proud of their city, and they're so welcoming, and they will do anything it takes to make people who are visiting Glasgow for these games feel that they're having a good time."
The joy of Scottish fans at the World Cup in the USA was a key takeaway. "The takeaway from the football World Cup for me was how well the Scottish fans performed. Everybody was talking about it, and what enjoyment and joy, just joy, that they took from those games," Hoy said. He added: "The fans, the public will get behind this. Even though it's maybe not quite on as big a scale as it was in 2014, I think it will still be fantastic."
Legacy of 2014 Games
Addressing Usain Bolt's alleged comment that Glasgow was "a bit s***," Hoy dismissed the remark. "All I know is that the games were fantastic. In 2014, it was the best Commonwealth Games that I'd ever witnessed, and the legacy of those games is that we do now have world class facilities." He highlighted the athletes' village turned into housing and the inspiration for a new generation of athletes.
Hoy's Role in Opening Ceremony
Hoy revealed a poignant but "fun" part in the opening ceremony. "I'm doing the opening ceremony, doing a role in that, which I can't say much about, which should be fun, and I've done some filming for that already. I'm doing the TV punditry, some of the broadcasting for the track cycling, and then hopefully I'll have enough time to duck around and see some of the other sports events that are happening," he said.
National Lottery Funding: A Sliding Doors Moment
The 50-year-old credited the National Lottery for his career. "It came—it was like a sliding doors moment. I received lottery funding in 1998, got my first grant just as I was about to finish university. So it allowed me to go full-time, and that was the step up that gave me the chance to pursue my dreams," he said. "As a small nation, to be competing against the likes of China and the US and Russia and be battling it out, it shows that investment in sport. The money doesn't buy medals, but it gives the athletes the opportunity to pursue their dreams."
Hoy noted that over £1 billion of National Lottery funding has been invested in Glasgow, supporting more than 14,000 projects over 32 years.
Inspiring Others Amid Cancer Battle
Diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in September 2023, Hoy has used his platform to raise awareness. "I'm trying to find a positive in a very difficult situation. So, yeah, it's what drives me on now, and hopefully raise a lot of money for the cancer charities through the Tour de Four (his Glasgow to Edinburgh mass cycling event) and change perceptions of what a stage four diagnosis can be," he said.
