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The BBC have been warned to ‘stop their nonsense’ - and secure a deal to televise the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Every Games since 1954 has been screened for UK viewers by the national broadcaster, but the corporation’s role in next year’s event is in doubt following news that a deal has not yet been struck.
Mail Sport understands that, although talks are ongoing with different parties, the BBC are reluctant to proceed despite their long history with the Games.
Former Scottish track star Brian Whittle, now a Conservative MSP, says if the BBC don’t show the Games it will be ‘another nail in the coffin’ for sport in Scotland - and he is urging the UK Government to step in should the broadcaster not agree terms.
‘They absolutely should be showing the Games,’ he said. ‘If I was to hazard a guess, I’d say this was the curse of the “dancing around the handbags to do a deal”.
‘The driving force behind this is probably the logistics and the money side of things and the amount of money it costs to host one of these things.’
Brian Whittle competed for his country on the track - winning a Commie Games medal
Whittle is now a Conservative MSP - and is calling for action ahead of Glasgow 2026
Whittle fears the future of the Games will be in jeopardy if the BBC are not involved.
‘As we currently stand, the reason the Games are in Scotland is because the Games are struggling, and were struggling to become financially viable in Australia.
So it’s really important, even if it is a reduced (event), that this is successful and is seen by as many people and validated by as many organisatons as possible.
‘If the host nation’s broadcaster decided it wasn’t big enough, how on earth can (other) countries be persuaded to host the Games? It’s crucial that the BBC stop this nonsense.’
Whittle competed in three Games during his athletics’ career, winning silver in the 4x400m in 1990.
He said it was ‘massively important’ as an athlete for the Games to be shown on television, and to obtain exposure to a much bigger audience.
‘The 1986 Commonwealth Games (in Edinburgh) was my first major outdoor Games,’ he said.
‘It brought me to the homes of people across the country, and then two weeks later I won the European championship.
First Minister John Swinney helped launch the Glasgow 2026 mascot earlier this week
‘As a home nation, you get to wear the Scotland vest, and it’s a stepping stone to a much bigger arena.
‘I was a fledgling UK athlete at the time, but it was about being able to compete alongside contemporaries and be seen. The Commonwealth Games is unbelievably important to our home athletes.’
Asked if he felt there should be cross-party support for the BBC to remain the host broadcaster, Whittle said: ‘Yes, definitely’.
‘I think there would be cross-party support for this and, if there’s political pressure to be put on the BBC, it should be done.
‘I will be doing exactly that and speaking to the BBC and asking what they’re playing at.
‘I know outside broadcasters have already been subcontracted, so I just don’t believe it. I do think it’s a dancing around the handbags thing.
‘It’s vital that they keep the association with the Games. More and more key sports are not hosted on the BBC any more. It’s really important, especially in a home Games, that the BBC are the host broadcaster.
‘The ramifications - if it didn’t happen - would be a massive blow to sport in this country, because these major Games are a shop window for physical activity and sport.
'If a big swathe of the population doesn’t have access to that, the inevitability is that less people will see world class sport at that level, less kids will be enthused by that.
‘My worry is that there is this continual decline in participation, in physical education, fitness, health, in sport, and that would just be another nail in the coffin.’
The Department for Media, Sport and Culture told Mail Sport that the BBC’s failure to commit so far is a matter for ‘Commonwealth Sport and Glasgow 2026’.
But a spokesperson added: ‘The Commonwealth Games is an amazing sporting event, and the Government is keen that Glasgow 2026 provides another great opportunity to inspire millions by bringing elite sport into our living rooms.’
Glasgow stepped in to save the day with a ‘revamped’ Games after Australia pulled out of the event in 2023, due to a significant rise in costs.
The Games’ future was immediately put in doubt, but a decision was agreed for Glasgow to host the competition on a scaled-down basis, with financial help from Commonwealth Games Australian, and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Organisers have made clear that no public money will be used to host the Games in Scotland, although the UK government will provide financial support should there be an increased security threat.
The revised edition will feature ten sports and six para-sports, across four different venues - after securing £100m from the Australians to host.
Though massively reduced in size, it’s a model that organisers hope can be used in further iterations, so that a long-term future is secured.
Glasgow 2026 CEO Phil Batty would not be drawn on where discussions were with the BBC, but told Mail Sport that organisers were speaking to ‘a number of different parties’ over a broadcasting deal - and insisted discussions were still ‘ongoing’.
