The Commonwealth Games continues to be a platform "where champions are made", Commonwealth Sport president Dr. Donald Rukare told AFP as Glasgow prepares to host a reduced version of the multi-sport event.

The future of the Games was thrown into uncertainty after Australia's Victoria state withdrew as the 2026 hosts in July 2023, citing escalating costs. Glasgow, which previously staged the event in 2014, stepped in with a proposal for a smaller edition using existing facilities to limit expenses for taxpayers.

The 10-sport and six para-sport programme — reduced from the 19 sports and eight para-sports featured at Birmingham four years ago — will begin on Thursday. King Charles is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony and officially declare the Games open.

"We had that dark cloud over us in terms of having no Games, but Glasgow stepped in. Scotland the brave as we say," said Rukare.

First organised 96 years ago as the British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games has since evolved into an international event involving 74 nations and territories, largely comprising countries with historical links to the British Empire.

Held two years before or after the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games have traditionally provided a platform for emerging athletes to gain major-event experience.

"It's about the athletes," added Rukare. "For some of the athletes, they're going to be representing their countries, their territories, for the first time and we believe that the Commonwealth Games is where champions are made."

Swimming and athletics remain the only compulsory sports in the Commonwealth programme, with organisers aiming to provide greater flexibility for future hosts.

Despite recent challenges, Rukare expressed confidence in the long-term prospects of the event.

India's Ahmedabad has already been confirmed as the host city for the centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, while New Zealand and other nations have shown interest in hosting the 2034 edition.

"It won't remain at the 10 sports for sure, but we're looking at probably something in the range of between 15 and 18 sports going forward," he said.

"At the end of the day, what we're looking for is how do we have a sustainable, smart, agile model, but also responding to the needs and aspirations of the athletes."

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'Mosaic of cultures'

The success of the Ahmedabad Games could prove crucial for the future direction of the Commonwealth sporting movement.

Six of the previous seven editions have been hosted by either the United Kingdom or Australia. The Games have been held in Asia only twice, while Africa has never hosted the event despite having a large number of participating nations.

Ahmedabad's selection is viewed in India as an important step towards its ambition of hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. Authorities hope the event will strengthen the country's reputation as a global sporting destination.

"We'd like to see that the Commonwealth family, Commonwealth Sport, reflect the diversity, the multicultural cultures that we have," added Rukare, an Ugandan.

"Going to one of the biggest countries in the Commonwealth, building on from Delhi 2010, there's no doubt that India now is a different place. They are ready to go.

"We'd like to see how India will definitely put on a good show, maybe down the road sometime in the future, Africa could host the Games.

"So we're really trying to commit to the Games right across the Commonwealth, to be able to show the whole mosaic of the culture and beautiful tapestry that we have of all our 74 territories."