The upcoming Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will put Scotland on the world stage once again. It will be a moment to celebrate elite sporting achievement, welcome athletes and visitors from across the Commonwealth, and recognise the everyday places, people, volunteers and partnerships that make sport and physical activity possible in communities across Scotland.

For local government, the Games are more than a major sporting event. They are a reminder of the vital role councils and their partners play in helping people to get active, stay healthy and feel connected to the places they live.

Every day, councils and leisure trusts support people of all ages and abilities to be active. They steward leisure centres, swimming pools, sports halls, pitches, parks, open spaces and active travel routes. They work with clubs, volunteers, schools, health partners and community organisations to create opportunities that support wellbeing, inclusion and participation.

This work matters. Being active improves physical and mental health, helps reduce pressure on health and social care, supports children and young people to thrive, strengthens community connections and contributes to inclusive local economies. Sport also has an important role in community cohesion, bringing people together across places, backgrounds and generations through shared activity, volunteering and local pride. These benefits are felt not only during major events, but in the weekly training sessions, school swimming lessons, walking groups, local fixtures and community activities that take place across Scotland all year round.

Local government is not simply a provider of facilities and services; it is a key leader in shaping Scotland’s sporting and physical activity landscape. Through COSLA’s Sport and Physical Activity Special Interest Group (SIG), elected members and partner organisations come together to provide strategic leadership, share learning and champion the role that sport, physical activity and public leisure play in improving outcomes for people and communities.

The SIG demonstrates the sector’s collective ambition to create a healthier, more active and more equal Scotland. It provides a strong voice for local government on issues ranging from participation and inclusion to infrastructure, workforce development and investment, helping to ensure that councils are at the forefront of national discussions about the future of sport and physical activity.

Across Scotland, local government continues to be aspirational in its approach—working with partners across sport, health, education, transport, planning, community organisations and the private sector to create environments where people have every opportunity to get active, stay active and live well.

Glasgow 2026 will be delivered through a compact model using existing venues across the city. A number of the facilities being used for the Games are operated by Glasgow Life on behalf of Glasgow City Council, including Scotstoun Sports Campus, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, and the Glasgow International Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

These are not just venues for world-class competition. They are community assets used by local people, clubs, schools and community groups. Their role in the Games demonstrates the long-term value of investing in public leisure and sport infrastructure: facilities built, maintained and modernised for communities can also support Scotland’s ability to host major events and inspire future participation.

COSLA’s white paper, The Future of Public Leisure and Sport – An Investment in Scotland’s Wellbeing, makes clear that public leisure, sport and everyday physical activity are essential national assets. The paper sets out the case for long-term, flexible investment, infrastructure renewal, inclusion, workforce development, modern legislation, strengthened leadership and better data.

At its heart is a simple message: if Scotland is serious about prevention, health and wellbeing, we must value and sustain the places and services that help people to be active. That means recognising the pressures facing public leisure and sport, and working across national and local government, the third sector, sport governing bodies, health, education, planning and communities to protect and strengthen opportunities for everyone.

Behind every major sporting moment is a local pathway: a first lesson at a local pool, a club night at a sports hall, a volunteer coach on a wet evening, a safe park to walk in, or a community facility that brings people together. Local sports clubs and community organisations are central to this ecosystem. They support participation, develop talent, build confidence, tackle isolation and create a sense of belonging.

As excitement builds towards Glasgow 2026, we should celebrate not only the athletes who will compete, but also the local infrastructure and community networks that make sport possible. The Games offer a powerful opportunity to tell that story: sport and physical activity are not optional extras. They are core to healthier, happier and more resilient communities.

Scotland has the venues, the expertise, the clubs, the volunteers and the community ambition to support a more active nation. To make the most of that potential, we need sustained partnership and investment across sectors, with local government empowered to respond to local need and plan for the long term.

Glasgow 2026 will showcase Scotland’s sporting excellence. It should also strengthen our shared commitment to the everyday opportunities and public infrastructure that help people get active, stay active and live well in every community.

Through the leadership of councils, leisure trusts, community organisations and COSLA’s Sport and Physical Activity Special Interest Group, local government is helping to shape a future where sport, physical activity and public leisure are recognised as fundamental building blocks of healthier communities and a more resilient Scotland. Glasgow 2026 provides an opportunity not only to celebrate sporting success, but also to reaffirm our collective ambition for an active nation where everyone can access the facilities, spaces and opportunities they need to thrive.