Don Rukare speaks out on how the Commonwealth Games will be sustained

What the report says

The Observer reports that Commonwealth Sports president Don Rukare is outlining changes meant to keep the Commonwealth Games viable beyond the 2030 edition, which is scheduled for India. The article says concern about the future of the event has grown after Australia’s Victoria withdrew from hosting the 2026 Games, which were later moved to Glasgow, Scotland, amid cost concerns.

Rukare’s central argument is that the Games have become too expensive for many would-be hosts because of the large number of sports and the facilities required to stage them. According to the report, Commonwealth Sports plans to work more closely with bidder nations and tailor the programme to what each host can realistically provide, rather than insisting on a fixed, expansive model.

The piece says this shift is already reflected in the more compact format used at the recent Games, where fewer sports were included than in earlier editions. It notes that some events traditionally associated with the competition were left out to ease financial and logistical pressure, while still maintaining competition standards and athlete safety.

The Observer adds that the approach could make it easier for countries in Africa to bid in future, with South Africa mentioned as a possible interested host. Rukare is presented as saying the goal is flexibility without lowering standards, so that hosting remains attractive and the Games can continue long term.