That the Parliament welcomes the fact that Glasgow will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, albeit with a reduced number of events, but deeply regrets the decision to exclude the marathon from the list of events; considers that the marathon is one of the oldest and most iconic sporting events in the world and has been part of every Commonwealth Games until now; further considers that, although there are obvious constraints on public expenditure, many sporting events are self-financing, especially mass participation events; urges, therefore, the organisers of the 2026 Commonwealth Games to consider all options for reinstating the marathon, including the possibility of a mass participation event, whereby the elite athletes, representing their countries, could start before the other participants and the latter could be charged an entry fee to cover the cost; believes that such a mass participation event could appeal to sponsors and more importantly to thousands of runners who would be attracted by the prestige of taking part in a Commonwealth Games event, and further believes that this could bring considerable economic and social benefits to Scotland through international media coverage, showcasing the city of Glasgow to the rest of the world.
Supported by:
Jackie Baillie, Foysol Choudhury, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Pauline McNeill