Harnessing sport for resilience in the Commonwealth

A new report from the Academy of Sport highlights how sport can and should be used to address challenges and promote community amongst Commonwealth nations.

The Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, set to host 3,000 athletes from 74 nations, presents a pivotal opportunity to leverage sport as a powerful tool for building resilience within the Commonwealth. With an expected audience of over 1 billion and more than 700,000 attendees, this event is more than mere entertainment. It offers a platform for potential systemic change.

'Repurposing sport for Commonwealth resilience'

A report by Prof Grant Jarvie et al for The University of Edinburgh's Academy of Sport argues that sport should be viewed not just as a spectacle but as an important tool for human development. Sport can also help Commonwealth countries achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sport, the report argues, is ‘one of the Commonwealth’s most powerful and underutilised assets for building resilience’. Properly supported, sport can, and has, enhanced health, education, economic inclusion, peacebuilding, gender empowerment and climate action across all Commonwealth nations, effectively addressing pressing global challenges, the report claims.

Sport is not a luxury the Commonwealth can afford in good times. It is a necessity the Commonwealth cannot afford to waste.

The case is built on three foundations:

1. Evidence base: The Global Sport and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Baseline and Initial Impact Report established a measurable framework for sport's contribution to sustainable development across 210 countries.

2. Institutional moment: The Glasgow 2026 Games will launch a reformed model focused on sustainability and shared impact.

3. Strategic opportunity: The Commonwealth's diversity and shared values enhance its ability to deploy sport for resilience more than any other multi-lateral institution.

The report discusses how sport is uniquely positioned to address the diverse challenges faced by the Commonwealth's 2.5 billion citizens, including climate vulnerability, youth unemployment and gender inequality.

As the Commonwealth faces a defining moment, it is clear that collaborative efforts are essential. Can sport be utilised more strategically to unite diverse nations under a common goal? Professor Jarvie et al. say, "This infrastructure, if properly resourced and strategically directed, is a resilience machine waiting to be further activated."

The report calls for action and urges Commonwealth nations to embrace this opportunity for meaningful, systemic change.