The 23rd Commonwealth Games begin in Scotland; 74 countries and around 3,000 athletes will participate
The 23rd Commonwealth Games have kicked off in Glasgow with a spectacular indoor opening ceremony.Glasgow, Scotland, launched the 23rd Commonwealth Games on Thursday, July 23, featuring a vibrant opening ceremony that showcased Scottish culture. King Charles III officially opened the Games at the OVO Hydro in the presence of Queen Camilla, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and Commonwealth Games President Donald Rukare. This marked the second time in 12 years that the Scottish city has hosted this multi-sport event. Earlier, on Commonwealth Day (March 10, 2025), King Charles III had read the message contained within the King’s Baton at Buckingham Palace, signaling the start of the Games, which run until August 2. This is the first Commonwealth Games opening ceremony to be held indoors. Approximately 3,000 athletes from 74 nations are participating in the 2026 Commonwealth Games; the Parade of Nations inside the 13,000-capacity indoor arena was led by the African nations, followed by delegations from the Americas, Asia, the Caribbean, Oceania, and Europe. The opening ceremony also featured a Scottish lineup of talent. Grammy-nominated singer-songwriters KT Tunstall and Tom Walker performed, alongside Nina Nesbitt, Callum Beattie, Nathan Evans, Saint PHNX, and the electro-Celtic duo Valtos. The Indian team also participated in the athletes’ parade—with male members in formal suits and female participants in traditional sarees paired with blazers—receiving a rousing welcome from the audience. Led by Indian Olympic medalists Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain—who carried the flag and baton—the Indian contingent entered the arena after Brunei Darussalam and before Malaysia. India is represented by 123 athletes competing across eight able-bodied sports and five para-sports. Scotland, the host nation for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, made its entry last, in keeping with the tradition of multi-sport events. Reports indicate that approximately 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories will compete in 10 sports across four venues over the next 10 days, vying for 215 medals. Notably, six sports are hosting para-events alongside able-bodied competitions, reinforcing the organizers’ vision of inclusive games. The budget for this edition is relatively modest; Glasgow stepped in to host the event after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to escalating costs. Having successfully hosted the games in 2014, the Scottish city has once again opened its doors, with this edition operating on a budget of approximately £160 million. India won 61 medals—including 22 golds—at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games; however, the medal tally is likely to be affected this time by the absence of traditionally high-yielding sports such as shooting, hockey, badminton, wrestling, and cricket. Meanwhile, India is set to host the subsequent edition of the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030, which will be a full-fledged event featuring 17 sports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X to extend his heartfelt best wishes to the Indian contingent as the 23rd Commonwealth Games kicked off in Glasgow. I am fully confident that our athletes will participate in these Games with immense passion, determination, and a spirit of excellence; the skill and dedication of our players always inspire countless Indians.