This year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games full schedule has been announced, featuring 10 sports and 6 parasports—events specifically designed for athletes with disabilities. 200 medals will be on the line, and 3000 athletes from 74 different nations will be competing for them. It will have the biggest medal tally for parasports that the Commonwealth Games have ever hosted. Alongside that, the first medal received will be in para powerlifting.

The Commonwealth Games are like many other major sporting events, but they only include countries that are part of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth contains 56 countries, mostly made up of ones that used to be part of the British Empire, like Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, and Canada. The games are held every 4 years, and when the day comes, thousands of athletes arrive, ready to do their best to compete in their desired sport.

Unlike other major sporting events in the Commonwealth Games, parasport games are completely integrated, meaning there is no other ticket or event to the parasport competition. It also means that any parasport game contributes to their nation’s medal tally the same way an able-bodied sport would.

Parasports were first included in the Commonwealth Games in 1994 at the games in Canada. However, they were only exhibition sports, sports that were only there for entertainment, instead of being a part of the main competition. In 2002, at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, parasports were finally merged into their teams.

Next year, during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, there will be a record number of parasports for athletes. Organizers will pass out 47 medals between 6 parasports, the largest number of parasports ever in the Commonwealth Games.

A para athlete, Olivia Breen, thinks it will be a proud time for parasports. “It is a huge moment for parasport, with the largest medal program in Commonwealth history, with 47 medals available across six sports,” she said. “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.”

Citations:

“Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026: Para Sport to Make History.” BBC Newsround, 1 Aug. 2025, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c36jel6wynyo.

“Para-Sports at the Commonwealth Games.” Commonwealth Sport, www.commonwealthsport.com/about/para-sports.