In my first year in my role, I have been working towards three main objectives:

  • To build a more sustainable model for the Commonwealth Games; 
  • To develop and strengthen our Members, our Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs);
  • To ensure all voices in our Movement are heard.

We have faced significant challenges this year, but with the collaboration and support of our Members and partners we have also made significant progress on all three fronts.

A more sustainable model

We were so delighted to be able to confirm Glasgow as the host for the 2026 Commonwealth Games after a process that dominated much of the year, largely due to the political uncertainties we faced along the way. It was fantastic to finally announce the great news, and I want to recognise the heroic efforts of all involved.

Glasgow 2026 will be an important bridge to the Commonwealth Games of the future – an exciting first step in our strategic vision to reset and redefine the Games. 

I would like to once again thank all our Members for their patience and support and the hard work developing exciting new concepts from those who expressed an interest in hosting 2026 and further editions.  

I have been inspired by the enthusiasm that has been expressed by our Members and I am sure I speak for all CGAs in thanking Commonwealth Games Scotland for their innovative proposal and leadership in stepping forward to host the next Commonwealth Games.  

I also want to pay further tribute to Commonwealth Games Australia who offered a significant financial contribution to support the overall Games delivery for 2026 – an incredible example of the Commonwealth Sport family supporting each other.

The growth of GAPS

At the Commonwealth Sport GAPS Camps in Jamaica, Birmingham and Mauritius, we witnessed our Para athlete development and inclusion pathway programme in action, where athletes came together for intense weeks of training, competition, and personal development. 

Since the inaugural camp, GAPS has expanded across the Commonwealth regions, allowing more than 600 athletes and coaches in total to benefit from the programme, which is a true reflection of our commitment to driving social change through the power of sport. Our goal with GAPS is to drive hope and motivation and build pride and a strong sense of identity amongst Para athletes. We hope that the Para athletes and coaches who participate in GAPS will feel empowered to achieve their full sporting potential, inspiring us all. 

Athletes at our heart

We took a positive and important step in placing athletes’ voices at the heart of Commonwealth Sport earlier in the year with the Athletes’ Advisory Commission elections, when for the first time athlete members were elected by their fellow athletes.

 

Declaration on Reconciliation and Partnership with Indigenous Peoples endorsed

Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in July, I was delighted that governments welcomed the Commonwealth Sport Declaration on Reconciliation and Partnership with Indigenous Peoples at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s 11th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting.

By endorsing this Declaration, Sports Ministers acknowledged the vital role of sport in promoting inclusion, education, health, and peace. we continue to be committed to protecting and advancing the rights and opportunities of Indigenous communities, ensuring that the transformative power of sport benefits all. Learning from the past, we must move forward positively together and create a future where sport unites us all in a spirit of respect, empowerment, and wellbeing.

Sports Ministers also unanimously supported our new vision for the Commonwealth Sport Movement that includes a reset and redefined Commonwealth Games. The plan prioritises the continued sustainable development of the Games over the next three editions and the creation of new events and innovative sports properties in the quadrennial cycle that will diversify and strengthen the potential for more hosts, more athletes and more communities to participate in and benefit from sport in the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth athletes shine in Paris

It was fantastic to see the overall medal performance of the Commonwealth Nations and Territories at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with 210 medals won (62 gold, 69 silver and 79 bronze) out of the 1,039 medals up for grabs in Paris.

A total of 603 Commonwealth athletes competed at the Paralympics, with sixteen Commonwealth countries winning Paralympic medals that accounted for 17.4 percent of the total medals won. I was delighted to see many athletes (33 from 20 different nations) who have participated in the Commonwealth Sport GAPS Programme competing in Paris.

The performance of Commonwealth Para athletes at the Paralympics strengthens our commitment to the GAPS Programme and a fully integrated Para sport programme in future Commonwealth Games, driving social change and inclusion across the entire Commonwealth Sport Movement.

A voice for all CGAs

I was delighted to meet so many of our Members in person this year at our Regional Meetings in the Maldives, Mombasa in Kenya, and Turks & Caicos. The meetings were a testament to the power of collaboration, shared values, and the strength of our diverse community.

We came together with the objective of strengthening our Commonwealth Family relationships, with the meetings serving as an opportunity to share learnings on sustainability, sport development and meaningful social impact that Commonwealth Sport can influence.

By coming together, spending quality time together, we not only honour and celebrate our shared heritage and culture but also forge a brighter, more inclusive future for our Movement.

It has been uplifting to see existing friendships renewed and new friendships formed, with honest, open discussions that allowed all voices to be heard.

This is how we progress—as a Commonwealth family—by listening, challenging each other, and uniting in our shared purpose.

Game-changing in Eswatini

While holding our Commonwealth Sport Executive Board meeting in Eswatini, we had the opportunity to see how their incredible Commonwealth Sport Game Changers grant programme – an initiative exclusively for CGAs funded by the Commonwealth Sport Foundation – has leveraged sport to benefit and positively impact Swazi society – in this instance bringing the sport of Taekwondo to displaced people in the country, kick-starting other sports programmes in the process.

Empowering women leaders

In October, we showcased our commitment to champion equal opportunity and empower the next generation of women in leadership through the launch of the Commonwealth Sport Women Leaders Programme for 2024/2025 that provides a powerful platform for the support and guidance in the personal development of 16 women aspiring to assume future leadership roles in the sports industry.

The barrier-breaking programme is providing these aspiring women with a £5,000 scholarship, mentoring support and guidance to tailor their leadership journey and access to a community and online resources, with the goal of transforming equality of opportunity across the Commonwealth.

As we welcome this new cohort of scholarship recipients and international mentors, we are reminded of the vital role they will play in shaping the future of sport – breaking barriers, inspiring change, and championing equality for generations to come.

Positioning Commonwealth Sport at centre of the Commonwealth

In October, I strengthened relationships with Commonwealth Heads of Government at CHOGM in Samoa. I spoke about the vital role the Commonwealth Sport Movement and the Games play in social development and the important role Glasgow 2026 will play in showcasing the power of our Movement to the world, putting the Commonwealth Games at the centre of a redefined Commonwealth.

I emphasised that Commonwealth Sport is uniquely positioned to address some of the most urgent challenges we face today. Our Movement generates sporting, cultural, diplomatic, economic and social benefits, and, collectively, these five pillars – these five ‘wealths’ – have the power to foster a more prosperous, inclusive, and united Commonwealth. Sport deserves a higher status within governments, and, by intentionally leveraging its power, sport can shift mindsets and enhance national development priorities. 

Vital in our positioning within the Commonwealth has been the building of a close working relationship with the Commonwealth Secretariat and Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, who has been hugely supportive to our cause. We very much look forward to working with her successor, Shirley Botchwey of Ghana, next year.

Exciting new dawn

Ending the year with the Virtual General Assembly, I reflect upon a momentous year for us. An exciting new dawn is emerging for the Commonwealth Sport Movement where we can proudly look forward with confidence in the long-term future of the Commonwealth Games, with belief in who we are and what we stand for, and with conviction in our role as leaders of sport within the Commonwealth. 

I want to thank our 74 CGA Members for their truly valued work and support in 2024, and I am really looking forward to continuing our journey together in 2025. For now, though, I simply wish you all a happy and peaceful holiday period, and I hope you can spend cherished time with friends and family.