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Scottish legend and gold medallist in the 10,000m (Birmingham 2022) Eilish McColgan has expressed her regret at being unable to defend her title this week, as she fights back to full fitness. McColgan still hopes to have “one more” Commonwealth Games in her.
McColgan (pictured) says Glasgow 2026 is showing how to deliver a major event without spending hundreds of millions on new infrastructure – and inspiring kids to take up sport because their heroes are in town.
The four-time European Championship medallist and Olympian is spending time at the Athletics and Para Athletics at Scotstoun Stadium this week cheering on her teammates as a fan.
McColgan said: “It was hard to watch a race that I would love to be in. That’s just the instinct of being a competitive athlete. I might have one more Commonwealth Games in me!”
McColgan has been impressed at how the Glasgow games has delivered the event in just 18 months after Victoria in Australia pulled out of hosting.
She added: “It’s been very last minute. It’s not the big shiny games that we’ve had in previous years, but that was to be expected. It’s been done on tight timeframes. But I think they’ve done well to pull it together.
“Glasgow has stepped up. I think it still gives it the chance to continue (the Commonwealth Games) rather than just stop abruptly. I hope that other countries now see that it doesn’t need to have this huge, huge budget to make it work.
“You know, we don’t need to have massive, brand-new infrastructure or stadiums and all the outlets staying in a big village. There are different ways you can cut down the costs.
“There’s still mass-market appeal. At 6am see how many people are running along the River Clyde. Running is in a real boom right now. So, I think it’s important that we do showcase it.
“These are sports that keep you active and are good for your mental health. I do hope that this gives the Commonwealth Games a bit of life to continue. Because I think it would be sad to just lose it… and lose the opportunity to represent Scotland. It’s the only time we get to, and just also to showcase some of the smaller nations.
“You’ve got all the small African nations, all small Caribbean islands. They all get a chance to showcase their talent on a global scale. I know it’s not the Olympics but it’s on a global scale, which is unique. That’s cool. It’s incredibly positive and then when you walk around the city and see all the kids and stuff, it’s pretty cool for Glasgow just to have another chance to see some Scottish athletes. You’ve got to see it as a kid to think you can be it.
“And youngsters will get to use the Commonwealth Games Stadium, which is special. As a youngster growing up, I didn’t have a lot of confidence. For me, making a Scotland team felt like it might be doable. You know, it felt smaller because there’s a smaller number of people to get selected. That’s what the Games can do.
“I always felt it would be cool to represent Scotland one day. Not really dreaming, at that stage, of going to the Olympics or Worlds. I never felt like that was within my capabilities. So, from a young age, I’ve always felt like it was achievable.”
Ahmedabad, India will host the next Commonwealth games in October 2030.
Eilish is most looking forward to supporting Team Scotland on the track and field. “I’m very intertwined with all of Team Scotland athletics. Like Andrew Butchart, Laura Muir’s another one we’ve grown up together. Jemma Reekie is another one. Obviously, I think the men’s mile is probably the most hotly contested. You’ve got Josh Kerr, who is clearly in form! You don’t set a world record without being in form. And then Jake Wightman is coming in, almost under the radar. Which is mad considering he is world champion. I hope they both get a medal. I think they will.”
Glasgow 2026 is the largest sporting event in the UK this year, with 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories set to compete in 10 sports and six Para sports, in four iconic venues across the city.
With the action underway at Glasgow 2026, fans are encouraged not to miss out and get their hands on their tickets, available at glasgow2026.com/tickets.
Where to watch the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow?
United Kingdom and Ireland
- TNT Sports offers over 600 hours of coverage across multiple channels, including TNT Sports 2, 3, and 4.
- HBO Max provides streaming access to every event live, with interactive features like Multiview, In-Player Alerts etc.
- Channel 5 broadcasts daily free-to-air highlights, including key medal moments and major finals.
- The Opening Ceremony on July 23 at 8:00 PM BST can be replayed on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
United States and Canada
- beIN SPORTS will cover the Games live, including athletics, swimming, gymnastics etc.
- Coverage includes daily live broadcasts and streaming via beIN SPORTS CONNECT, with select events also available on beIN SPORTS Xtra for free on YouTube beIN SPORTS.
Australia
- Channel Seven will broadcast the Games live, starting from July 24, with coverage of all ten sports over eleven days.
- Daily schedules include morning, primetime, and overnight sessions to accommodate different time zones.
Singapore
MediaCorp is the official broadcaster for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and will air daily coverage on Channel 5 and the mewatch app, with live coverage starting from the Opening Ceremony.
Malaysia
National broadcaster RTM will bring live coverage of national athletes’ action through the Sukan+ channel on the MYTV 111 platform, RTMKlik, and RTM’s official social media, and it will also be broadcast on the Sukan+ channel on Astro 806.
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