Australian middle-distance star Jess Hull insists the onus is on athletes to breathe life into the Commonwealth Games as they embark on a scaled-down version of the event in Glasgow.
Only 10 sports feature on the 2026 Games schedule after the Scottish city rescued the event at short notice.
The looming European championships and under-20 world championships, beginning August 10 and 5 respectively, has made the Commonwealth Games a harder sell in athletics.
Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson was among nine English athletes to pull out on the day of the opening ceremony, while Julien Alfred (Olympic 100m champion) and Letsile Tebogo (Olympic 200m champion) notably bypassed Glasgow.
Eilish McColgan, the Scottish 10,000m Commonwealth Games champion who is recovering from a toe injury, is the face on Glasgow 2026 promotional banners throughout the city.
But McColgan became the latest high-profile withdrawal on day two of the event.
Hull insists she sees a bright future for an event that remains close to her heart, calling on fellow athletes to reinvigorate the Games as she launches medal bids in the mile and 5000m.
"It's about the athletes," Olympic 1500m silver medallist Hull said, speaking prior to McColgan's withdrawal.
"If they show up and perform and really show that they want to be there.
"That they've embraced this Commonwealth Games and prepared as well as they could to put on a show ... they really cared and put their best foot forward.
"I really think that that's going to help give a lifeline to the Commonwealth Games.
"If they (fans) can see that it means something to the athletes, it might just mean another (country) puts their hand up to bid for 2034."
Glasgow's pared back schedule has no open-road events, such as the marathon, and there is no dedicated athletes' village.
"It's going to be a different Games," said Hull, who completed a strong preparation with a dominant 3000m triumph at the London Diamond League event.
"It is a lot smaller, but at the same time I think we're all pretty grateful that we have the opportunity to compete.
"I grew up watching the Commonwealth Games before the Olympics, so it means something.
"If you've decided that and you've got your heart set on it, it's going to be just as good as any other Commonwealth Games."
Australia's world champion high jumper Nicola Olyslagers expects the level of competition to be high, even if the overall experience won't be as "intense" for athletes.
"It's a shame without the village, but we all want to go there because of the competition itself," Olyslagers told AAP.
"It's still amazing and I think it's still something that should be backed for the future because it helps us, and Australians really rise to the occasion."
Olyslagers burst onto the international scene as a 21-year-old when she won bronze at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast, and said the event remains a valuable development platform.
"The Commonwealth Games was a starting point for me with understanding what it means to compete for a team and to have a bit of pressure," Olyslagers said.
"It's such a great event to learn about the team and to represent your nation alongside all these other sports.
"It really helps you learn how to shine when maybe you're not the best in the world, but you are (up against) some of the best."
