The Commonwealth Games: More Than Sport or Just Soft Power?

Every four years, athletes from across the Commonwealth gather under their national flags to compete in athletics, swimming, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, netball, weightlifting and other sports.

For a few weeks, politics appears to take a back seat.

Runners compete against runners. Swimmers race swimmers. Boxers enter the ring. National anthems are played. Medals are won and lost. Young athletes who may never have met before discover that they belong to something larger than their individual countries.

But what exactly are the Commonwealth Games?

Are they simply an international sporting competition?

Are they an expression of Commonwealth identity?

Or are they ultimately an instrument of soft power—a way of maintaining relationships and influence through culture, friendship and shared experience rather than military or economic power?

The answer is: they are all three.

And that may be precisely why the Commonwealth Games remain important.

The first Games were held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930, when they were known as the British Empire Games. Eleven countries and about 400 athletes participated. The event subsequently evolved through several names before becoming the Commonwealth Games in 1978.

Nearly a century later, the institution is attempting another transformation.

The 2026 Games in Glasgow are being presented as a leaner, more sustainable model, with 74 nations and territories participating. The programme contains 10 sports, including six fully integrated Para sports, across four venues.

The bigger question is whether this transformation can make the Games relevant to a new generation.

Sport as a Language Everyone Understands

Diplomacy can be complicated.

Trade negotiations can take years.

Political relationships can be damaged by historical grievances.

Government-to-government relationships can become trapped in ideology.

Sport is different.

A 100-metre race requires no translation.

A football or basketball match requires no diplomatic agreement.

A swimming race does not care whether the athlete comes from a large country or a small island state.

This is one of sport's greatest powers.

The Commonwealth includes some of the world's largest nations and some of its smallest. Commonwealth Sport itself points to the extraordinary range—from India, with more than 1.2 billion people, to Niue, with a population of around 1,600.

On the sporting field, however, the smaller country can stand beside the larger one.

Its flag is displayed.

Its athlete is introduced.

Its national anthem can be heard.

That creates something diplomacy sometimes struggles to produce:

symbolic equality.

The Games Create Human Connections

The most important legacy of the Commonwealth Games may not be the medals.

It may be the relationships created around them.

Athletes train together.

Coaches exchange knowledge.

Officials develop professional networks.

Sports scientists collaborate.

Journalists travel between countries.

Volunteers meet international visitors.

Young spectators encounter cultures they may otherwise never experience.

A swimmer from Africa can meet an athlete from the Caribbean.

An Australian cyclist can interact with an Indian competitor.

A Scottish volunteer can form a friendship with a Pacific Island athlete.

These connections may appear insignificant individually.

Collectively, they create a network of human relationships spanning continents.

That is soft power at its most organic.

Nobody has to order people to cooperate.

They simply meet.

But Isn't This Just Soft Power?

Yes.

And there is nothing inherently negative about that.

Soft power is the ability to influence attitudes and relationships through attraction, credibility, culture, values and relationships rather than coercion.

Sport is particularly effective because people voluntarily engage with it.

A country does not have to convince millions of people to watch a political conference.

But millions may watch an athlete competing for a medal.

That athlete becomes a cultural ambassador without necessarily intending to be one.

The Commonwealth Games therefore create an unusual diplomatic environment.

Countries compete fiercely while remaining members of the same sporting family.

This produces a form of competitive cooperation.

You want to beat the other country.

But you also respect the other athlete.

That distinction matters.

From Empire to Commonwealth

The historical evolution of the Games makes this even more interesting.

The first Games were explicitly connected to the British Empire. Their original identity reflected a world in which Britain exercised enormous imperial power.

That history cannot simply be erased.

But the Games themselves changed as the political structure around them changed.

Former colonies became independent states.

New countries joined.

The language of empire gradually gave way to the language of Commonwealth cooperation.

The transformation is symbolically important.

The Commonwealth Games are therefore an example of an institution that originated inside an imperial system but was subsequently reshaped by independent countries.

That does not eliminate the colonial legacy.

But it demonstrates that institutions can evolve.

India, Africa and the Changing Centre of Gravity

The future of the Games increasingly depends on recognising that the Commonwealth is no longer primarily a British-centred institution.

India, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific are central to its future.

This is particularly important because the demographic centre of the Commonwealth is young and increasingly concentrated outside Europe.

Commonwealth Sport notes that more than 60 percent of Commonwealth citizens are under 30.

This means that the Games should not simply preserve an old sporting tradition.

They should become a platform for the aspirations of a new generation.

That means investing in sports that are popular with young people.

It means expanding digital engagement.

It means developing women's sport.

It means integrating Para sport.

It means supporting grassroots programmes.

And it means ensuring that smaller and less wealthy countries can participate meaningfully.

The Commonwealth Games Can Build Sporting Infrastructure

There is another dimension that is sometimes overlooked.

Elite international competitions can accelerate sporting development.

When a country prepares to host or participate in major Games, it may invest in:

• Stadiums

• Swimming pools

• Training centres

• Sports medicine

• Coaching

• Sports science

• Youth programmes

• Transport

• Broadcasting

• Digital infrastructure

The most valuable legacy, however, should not be an impressive stadium that becomes underused after the closing ceremony.

It should be a stronger sporting ecosystem.

A successful Games should leave behind coaches, facilities, community programmes, trained officials and young athletes who continue participating years later.

That is the difference between an event and a legacy.

Sport Can Become a Health Strategy

The Commonwealth's sporting potential extends far beyond elite competition.

Physical inactivity, obesity and non-communicable diseases are major challenges in many countries.

Sport can promote:

• Physical fitness

• Mental well-being

• Discipline

• Teamwork

• Social inclusion

• Community participation

• Healthy lifestyles

This is why Commonwealth Sport increasingly describes itself as a movement with social purpose rather than simply an organisation responsible for staging a Games. Its stated mission includes equality in sport and society and creating events that benefit host communities.

The Commonwealth could therefore use the Games as the visible centre of a much larger health campaign.

Imagine every Commonwealth Games triggering a four-year Commonwealth-wide programme encouraging millions of children to participate in sport.

The competition would then become the climax of a much larger movement.

Women and Girls

The Games also provide an opportunity to challenge gender inequality.

Women's participation in international sport has expanded enormously compared with the early decades of the competition.

That matters because sporting visibility can influence social expectations.

A girl watching a successful female athlete from Kenya, India, Jamaica, Australia or England can see possibilities that extend beyond sport.

She sees discipline.

Leadership.

Professional achievement.

International recognition.

Financial independence.

Public confidence.

Sport cannot solve gender inequality by itself.

But it can change what young people believe is possible.

Para Sport and Inclusion

One of the strongest developments in Commonwealth Sport has been the integration of Para sport.

Glasgow 2026 is scheduled to include six fully integrated Para sports.

This matters because inclusion becomes much more powerful when it is visible.

A sporting system that places athletes with disabilities at the centre of the same international celebration sends a message about capability rather than limitation.

The lesson extends beyond stadiums.

If societies can rethink assumptions about disability through sport, they can also rethink accessibility in education, employment, transportation and public life.

The Diplomatic Value of the Games

The Commonwealth Games also provide an informal diplomatic environment.

During a major international sporting event, political leaders, ministers, diplomats, sporting officials and business representatives gather in the same city.

That creates opportunities for conversations that may not happen through formal diplomatic channels.

The Commonwealth recognised this potential when its 2026 Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow was designed to discuss how sport could advance development, inclusion, peace, gender equality, health and investment across Commonwealth countries.

This is where sport moves beyond entertainment.

It becomes a convening mechanism.

A government minister may arrive primarily for sport but leave having discussed youth employment, tourism, investment, health or climate cooperation.

That is diplomatic capital.

The Economic Dimension

Sport is also an industry.

Major competitions generate opportunities in:

• Tourism

• Hospitality

• Broadcasting

• Sponsorship

• Advertising

• Transportation

• Construction

• Sports equipment

• Digital media

• Technology

• Security

• Events management

Glasgow 2026 is projected by Commonwealth Sport to generate more than £100 million in inward investment and more than £150 million in economic value added for the region, while using a delivery model designed not to require public funding for the Games themselves.

These figures illustrate an important point.

The Commonwealth Games can be viewed not simply as an expense but as an economic platform—provided host cities control costs and produce measurable long-term benefits.

But There Is a Serious Problem

The Games are not automatically successful.

Hosting major sporting events can be extraordinarily expensive.

Stadiums can become white elephants.

Budgets can escalate.

Political priorities can change.

Public opinion can turn against the cost.

Environmental concerns can grow.

And countries with limited resources may reasonably ask whether money should be spent on sporting spectacles when schools, hospitals, roads and housing require investment.

This is perhaps the biggest challenge facing the Commonwealth Games.

The event must justify itself.

The answer cannot simply be tradition.

If the Games are to survive another century, they must demonstrate measurable value.

The Games Reset

This reality has already forced Commonwealth Sport to rethink its model.

Its Games Reset framework identifies five forms of "wealth": sporting, cultural, social, diplomatic and economic wealth.

This is potentially a significant change in philosophy.

The Games are no longer being judged solely by medals or television audiences.

They can also be judged by:

Sport wealth: Did participation and athletic development improve?

Social wealth: Did communities become healthier and more connected?

Cultural wealth: Did different cultures gain greater visibility and understanding?

Diplomatic wealth: Did international relationships improve?

Economic wealth: Did businesses, workers and host communities benefit?

This broader definition could be the key to the future.

Glasgow 2026: A Test of the New Model

The 2026 Glasgow Games are particularly important because they are being positioned as the first full implementation of Commonwealth Sport's new, more flexible model.

The Games will use four venues within a compact eight-mile corridor and a 10-sport programme. Commonwealth Sport describes the model as more agile, environmentally sustainable and partnership-led.

This could become a template for future hosts.

Instead of demanding enormous new infrastructure, future Games could make greater use of existing facilities.

Instead of building a gigantic event lasting several weeks, hosts could create a more concentrated competition.

Instead of measuring success primarily through spectacle, organisers could measure social and economic outcomes.

That could make hosting more accessible to countries that previously could not afford it.

Could Africa Host a Future Commonwealth Games Differently?

This raises an exciting possibility.

Africa could potentially use the Commonwealth Games as a platform for a new model of international sporting development.

Instead of trying to imitate London, Melbourne or other wealthy host cities, an African host could design Games around:

• Youth development

• Affordable infrastructure

• Community sport

• African sports industries

• Tourism

• Technology

• Digital broadcasting

• Local manufacturing

• Women's participation

• Para sport

• Entrepreneurship

The objective would be to build an African sporting economy rather than simply stage an international event.

That could be far more valuable.

The Commonwealth Games as a Cultural Festival

There is another opportunity that remains underdeveloped.

The Games could become a much larger cultural festival.

Imagine Commonwealth-wide programmes featuring:

African music.

Caribbean culture.

Indian cinema.

Pacific traditions.

Australian Indigenous cultures.

British literature.

Asian technology.

African fashion.

Commonwealth food.

Youth entrepreneurship.

Digital art.

Film.

Gaming.

The sporting competition could become the central pillar of a much larger celebration of Commonwealth diversity.

This would make the Games relevant even to people who do not normally watch sport.

What About the Colonial Question?

There is no credible discussion of the Commonwealth Games without acknowledging their origins.

The competition began as the British Empire Games.

That history matters.

For some people, the Games can therefore represent an uncomfortable legacy of empire.

For others, the modern Games represent something that has evolved beyond that original purpose.

Both perspectives deserve recognition.

The answer should not be to pretend the history never existed.

Nor should the Commonwealth allow historical controversy to prevent institutions from evolving.

The more interesting question is:

Can an institution born during empire become an instrument of equality among independent nations?

The answer is potentially yes—but only if its future reflects the Commonwealth as it actually exists today.

More Than Soft Power

So, are the Commonwealth Games simply soft power?

No.

Soft power is one of their functions, but it is not the whole story.

They are also:

A youth development platform.

A health platform.

An economic platform.

A cultural platform.

A diplomatic platform.

A sporting development platform.

An inclusion platform.

A mechanism for building human relationships.

The problem is not that the Games have soft power.

The problem would be if soft power were all they produced.

The Big Question: What Should the Commonwealth Games Become?

The Commonwealth Games should evolve from a two-week sporting event into a four-year Commonwealth development movement.

The competition should remain.

The medals should remain.

The national pride should remain.

The drama should remain.

But everything around the competition should become larger.

Imagine a four-year cycle in which every Commonwealth Games launches:

A Commonwealth Youth Sports Fund.

A Commonwealth Women's Sports Initiative.

A Commonwealth Para Sport Development Programme.

A Commonwealth Sports Technology Network.

A Commonwealth Sports Medicine Research Network.

A Commonwealth Sports Entrepreneurship Fund.

A Commonwealth Community Fitness Campaign.

A Commonwealth Athletes' Education Programme.

A Commonwealth Sports Diplomacy Forum.

Then the Games would no longer disappear after the closing ceremony.

They would become the visible summit of continuous cooperation.

Sport Is Only the Beginning

The Commonwealth Games have survived for almost a century because they provide something politics cannot easily manufacture.

They allow countries to compete without necessarily becoming enemies.

They create friendships between people who might otherwise never meet.

They give small countries an international stage.

They give young athletes a pathway to excellence.

They bring cultures into direct contact.

And increasingly, they provide a platform for conversations about health, equality, inclusion, investment, youth and diplomacy.

Commonwealth Sport itself now uses the phrase "Sport is only the beginning" to describe its broader ambition.

That may be the most important idea for the future.

The Commonwealth Games should not try to compete with the Olympics simply by becoming another giant sporting spectacle.

They have a different potential.

Their greatest strength is the network behind the medals.

If the Commonwealth can turn that network into education, youth development, economic partnerships, cultural exchange, diplomacy and social change, the Games can become something much more significant than a sporting competition.

They can become one of the Commonwealth's most powerful instruments for connecting its people.

So, are the Commonwealth Games more than sport—or merely soft power?

They can be much more.

Sport is the attraction.

Friendship is the connection.

Diplomacy is the bridge.

Development is the opportunity.

And the real measure of success should be what remains after the final medal has been awarded and the stadium lights have gone out.

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