Finnie the unicorn, the official mascot for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has drawn mixed reactions from locals. Karl, a 33-year-old Glaswegian, admitted he did not recognise the mascot, saying: "I caught a glimpse of one of the posters from the bus and thought: 'Are the bronies making a comeback?'"
Subdued buildup compared to 2014
The return of the Commonwealth Games to Scotland's biggest city comes with considerably less fanfare than in 2014, when anticipation built for months. Lamppost banners, purple merchandise, and occasional volunteers hint at an imminent international sporting event, but the loudest soundtrack is the relentless hum of construction machinery. George Square, the city's principal plaza, remains a major building site, with work to transform its historic heart not due for completion until October.
Claudia, a passerby, said: "I think the city's missed a trick. If George Square had been finished in time, it could've been a proper meeting point for fans and visitors. Even if the Games are smaller, you still want something in the city centre that makes it feel like there's a major event on."
A compact, low-cost Games
When the Australian state of Victoria withdrew from hosting in 2023 due to spiralling costs, Glasgow stepped in with an entirely different proposition: a compact, low-cost event using almost exclusively existing venues and expertise built for 2014. The programme has been reduced from 17 sports to 10, with events such as hockey, badminton, diving, and triathlon absent. However, the Games will feature the largest number of Para sport events in history, with 47 finals across six sports.
About 500,000 tickets have been made available compared with 1.2 million sold in 2014, and tickets have still not sold out two days out. The organising budget sits at £150m-£160m, a fraction of the estimated £550m spent 12 years ago.
Mixed public sentiment
Not everyone sees the quieter buildup as a problem. George, a volunteer in 2014, said: "People keep saying it's not like 2014, but it was never meant to be. Glasgow's basically stepped in at the last minute and used the venues we've already got. Considering the circumstances, I think the organisers deserve a bit of credit."
Karl, a volunteer this time, added: "I don't really get all the doom and gloom around it. It's a smaller Games than 2014 and everybody knew that from the start. If a few thousand people come to Glasgow, the venues are busy and folk enjoy themselves, that's a good outcome."
Organisers defend the approach
George Black, chair of the Games, rejected the idea that a stripped-back Games should be viewed as diminished. He said: "Years ago, the Commonwealth Games was a genuine topic of conversation across sport, across governments and across headlines. Glasgow, and Scotland, took the brave decision to step up and show that these Games matter and that there is no other city than Glasgow that could step forward and make these Games a success."
Rather than George Square, organisers are directing local supporters without tickets towards Kelvingrove Park, which will screen up to 12 hours of sport each day alongside music and family entertainment. Whether that recreates the festival atmosphere of 2014 remains to be seen.
Glasgow's enduring affection for major events
Scottish distance runner Eilish McColgan, one of the faces of the Games, admitted she might not have considered returning from marathon training for any other Commonwealth Games. "It's hard to turn down a Commonwealth Games. It's in Glasgow. If it was anywhere else in the world I probably wouldn't bother," she said.
Since 2014, Glasgow has hosted Cop26, the inaugural Cycling World Championships, and the World Indoor Athletics Championships. George, the volunteer, summed up the city's attitude: "Once the competition begins, the city will do what it always does: just get on with it."
