By Kent Gray/Triathlon.kiwi
Triathlon’s proud tradition at the Commonwealth Games dating back to 2002 has Tri NZ hopeful the sport will be included in the resurrected 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The Scottish City confirmed overnight it would step up to save the Games – with funding assistance from Australia – after Victoria reneged on 2026 hosting rights last year citing spiraling costs.
Tri NZ CEO Pete De Wet greeted the anticipated development with cautious “delight” as the Glasgow plan, per a BBC report, is to deliver a pared back programme of just 10 sports across four venues.
The NZ Olympic Committee confirmed Wednesday that the final sports allocation and dates for Glasgow are TBC, meaning there is no guarantee triathlon will be included and thus prompting De Wet’s hopeful but restrained response.
“Like the NZOC, we’re delighted the Commonwealth Games are back on for 2026 and salute Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Commonwealth Games Federation for their innovate approach to make this happen,” De Wet said.
“The Commonwealth Games are hugely important for triathlon, both for the sport’s profile and as a bridge to the Olympics for our best young talent. They provide invaluable mutli sport Games experience and huge mana in their own right for any athlete good enough to be selected and especially for anyone that medals.
“We’re hopeful the sport’s strong heritage in Great Britain and triathlon’s roots in three core Commonwealth sports – swim, bike and run – mark us as an attractive proposition to be one of the 10 sports ultimately selected.
“The minimal infrastructure required to build a triathlon course, be it outdoors or perhaps even indoors, is another tick for the sport. We have our fingers crossed and are doing everything within our power to lobby for the sport’s inclusion.”
New Zealand has won five individual and one mixed relay triathlon medal at Commonwealth Games level, spearheaded by Hamish Carter’s bronze at Manchester 2002 when tri made its debut at the Games.
Bevan Docherty and Samantha Warriner (Melbourne 2006) and Hayden Wilde (Birmingham 2022) earned silver medals while Andrea Hewitt won bronze in 2006. At the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast, the New Zealand quartet of Nicole van der Kaay, Ryan Sissons, Hewitt and Tayler Reid, claimed bronze in the mixed relay.
The proposal from Commonwealth Games Scotland has been achieved utilising the £100 million offered from the CG Federation as part of the Victoria Commonwealth Games settlement. This, together with Games revenue and the recent offer from CG Australia of a further £2.3 million, has helped to remove financial risk to the Scottish Government.
“Glasgow did a fantastic job of hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the city has since solidified its reputation as one of the premier sporting hubs in the Northern Hemisphere,” said NZOC CEO Nicki Nicol.
“We look forward to returning to Scotland and once again representing New Zealand on the Commonwealth stage. While we still await the final sport programme and dates, it is great to have received this announcement, and we look forward to further details in due course.”
