Sir Chris Hoy is backing Glasgow to get behind the Commonwealth Games in the same way it did 12 years ago. Glasgow stepped in as last-minute hosts for the 2026 edition after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out in 2023. Scotland’s biggest city has organised a scaled-down version of the Games from the one it hosted in 2014, but Hoy believes Glaswegians will embrace it all the same and put on a brilliant show for the rest of the Commonwealth.
Momentum building
“I think it's gathering momentum now, definitely,” he said. “People can see it's almost here. The memories from 2014 are still relatively fresh, so people are excited to be able to do it all again.” Hoy added: “I know we can do a great job this time around as well. All the facilities from those Games still exist, so we're all set and ready to go. We just need the public to get behind it, and I'm sure they will.”
Glasgow's passion for sport
“The people love sport, the city loves sport, and this is a chance for them to demonstrate that passion. Glasgow has done a really important job in helping carry on the Commonwealth Games and hopefully steady the ship for the future,” Hoy said. “I don't think it's going to be substandard. It will obviously be on a smaller scale, but I think the quality will still be there in terms of the event. I'm expecting it to be fantastic and for the locals to really get behind it in the way they did 12 years ago and welcome the entire Commonwealth to Glasgow.”
Hoy's role in opening ceremony
Hoy will be part of the opening ceremony next Thursday, reprising a similar role to 2014 when he memorably helped the Prime Minister of Malaysia with a faulty baton. The six-time Olympic champion will also provide track cycling punditry from the velodrome that bears his name. On the track, he won two Commonwealth golds for Scotland in his only opportunities to wear the Saltire.
Special moments for Scotland
“For me, it was the only chance to compete for Scotland, so it made it extra special to ride in the Scottish jersey,” he reflected. “It's a unique event, and the opportunity to hear the Scottish national anthem on the podium is something that stood out for me. The two moments I had to stand on the podium and receive a gold medal for Scotland were really special. There are a number of things that make the Commonwealth Games unique, and that is definitely one of them.”
National Lottery funding impact
Hoy was in Glasgow ahead of the Games to celebrate the impact of funding from The National Lottery in the city. Over £1 billion has now been invested in Scotland’s biggest city and the six-time Olympic champion was at charity Glasgow The Caring City to see first-hand the impact the money makes. He added: “I'm genuinely blown away by it. There are fantastic people doing stuff for their community, and young people are benefitting from that. It's exciting, and we're building up towards the Commonwealth Games next week, highlighting all the benefits that sport and different projects have received from National Lottery funding.”
Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £33million is raised every week for good causes. It’s because of you sport, arts, heritage and community projects, as well as our athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, are supported across the UK.
