Paralympic sports to be introduced at the 2026 Commonwealth Games
On June 6, 2025, Glasgow 2026 announced that parasports will be part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. They have a history of including parasports, and are looking to deepen that.
The event will have the biggest para sport medal tally of any Commonwealth Games in history. Speaking about history, for the first time, a para sport, para powerlifting, will be introduced.
It has 56 countries, including countries like Australia, Canada, India and South Africa. It’s held every four years and thousands come to either watch or compete in an event. They also have a program that includes the disabled in the same events.
What’s special about it this time is that, unlike the Paralympic Games and other major sporting events, this program at the Commonwealth Games is to be more in-depth.
Which means that the Paralympic Games are not a separate event or ticket for Para sport events, and a medal won by a Para athlete in the Men’s T54 Wheelchair 1500m, contributes to a nation’s medal tally in exactly the same way as the Men’s 1500m.
Events for the disabled were first included in the Commonwealth Games program at the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada.
However, at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, the Para athletes were fully integrated into their national teams, which made them the first fully inclusive international multi-sport Games.
A total of 20 countries have sent both male and female elite Para athletes to compete in ten events in five different Para sports. (Athletics, Lawn Bowls, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Weightlifting).
“I love the Commonwealth Games as it is the only competition where the able-bodied and para athletes are all together and it’s always so supportive and such a positive vibe,” Para athlete, Olivia Breen said.
References: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c36jel6wynyo,
https://www.paralympic.org/news/glasgow-2026-para-athletics-schedule-session-revealed,
chttps://www.commonwealthsport.com/about/para-sports