GLASGOW’S Commonwealth Games ensured “unity shone through” amid scenes of violence and division at a far-right rally in the city last weekend, the Glasgow 2026 CEO has said.
More than a dozen arrests were made at the Glasgow Green rally held by Unite the Clans during the opening weekend of the Games.
Delivery driver Muhammad Jawad told The National earlier this week how he had to run to a nearby shop to protect himself as thugs hurled racist abuse and launched a traffic cone at him.
He revealed how he struggled to leave the house following the incident and has experienced anxiety as a consequence.
Many including First Minister John Swinney commented on the jarring juxtaposition of scenes of far-right hatred as 74 nations were welcomed to the city for the Commonwealth Games.
But speaking exclusively to The National, Glasgow 2026 CEO Phil Batty said the event had ensured division and protest were not allowed to take over.
Asked about the rally, Batty said: “We live in a time where there is division in the world and I think what the first few days of the Games showed us is that the greater good is people coming together and sharing space, sharing conversation, celebrating and being part of one big community which is the Commonwealth.
“It was the unity that shone through. While there was disturbance that took place, the real power that came through from that first weekend was how we did stand as a Commonwealth, the city did welcome every body and the athletes have had an incredible time.
“Without a Games – and this is what I reflect on about the actions at the weekend – that would’ve just been division and protest. With a Games, the wider community and population get to see the positive representation of 74 nations in one place being welcomed by a city that is, at its core, incredibly welcoming.”
Competitors have been based in hotels for this new scaled-back version of Games rather than an athletes village and Batty said they have felt safe in the city and enjoyed their experience.
“The athletes have all had nothing but praise for their experience of Glasgow,” he said when asked if any had reported feel under attack.
“It’s a really new model living in hotel accommodation and being right at the heart of a city, and from the way they’ve used public transport networks to the way they’ve been able to go and explore the cultural offer of the city, I think they’ve felt more connected than ever before to the host city.”
Ten sports have been held across four venues in Glasgow with the city having stepped in at the 11th hour to save the Games following the withdrawal of the Australian state of Victoria as a host.
Major sports such as swimming, athletics, gymnastics and track cycling have all featured in the programme alongside lawn bowls, weightlifting, judo, netball, 3x3 basketball and boxing despite the city having just 18 months to prepare.
However, sports that have played a huge part in past Games such as hockey, squash and rugby sevens were not able to be included in the schedule.
It was the second time in succession a UK city had had to take the reins late on, with Durban having been due to host in 2022 before it was stripped of the honour after failing to meet key obligations.
This all led to legitimate fears Glasgow 2026 could be the last edition, but it was announced in November last year that India would host the 2030 centenary Games in the city of Amdavad.
However, that didn’t stop a flurry of negative headlines and discussion in the immediate run-up to Glasgow 2026, as articles and radio shows questioned whether the death knell had been sounded on the event.
But Batty says Glasgow has proven the Games remains relevant and shown that by making it flexible, nations right across the Commonwealth can be hosts in the future.
“This has, I believe, ended the conversation on whether the Games is relevant because it’s actually moved the conversation forward,” he told The National.
“There are now 74 nations who all believe they could at some point in the next 100 years host a Commonwealth Games, and this was a Games that historically has only been hosted by the few, not by the many.
“What we’ve done here is demonstrate that if you design a Games to the strengths of your city and your nation, if you are flexible and open-minded and willing to adapt and redesign the Games to the assets and the venues you have, anyone can host a Commonwealth Games in the Commonwealth.
“In a world where an Olympic Games is getting bigger every iteration, how fantastic to have an event that is flexible enough that whether its twin hosts, island nation Games or new models, this is a Games that’s willing to evolve with the times and that is what answers the relevance question.
“If the Commonwealth Games is the global multi-sport event that is unafraid to adapt each iteration to the host, then it will be the most inclusive global major event.”
