With a home Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on the horizon, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) have published the General Selection Policy and Standards document which will be used to select the athletes who will represent Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Clear, consistent selection policies and the Team Scotland ethos, bringing together all sports as one team, have been a factor in the success of Team Scotland over past Games cycles, culminating in a best ever Games outside Scotland at Birmingham 2022. Continuing the same approach, the selection policy for Glasgow focuses on selecting a team that performs with distinction in 2026.

The selection standard set out in the General Selection Policy is based on a performance level of the ability to show a top six performance at the Games with the key aims of achieving a higher percentage of athletes meeting the selection standards when in competition at the Games than in 2022 and for each sport to meet its stated performance aims. In addition, CGS has set the aim of all team members having a positive experience within Team Scotland at the Games.

As host nation, Team Scotland will be represented in all 10 sports on the programme and CGS will now work with sports to develop the Sport Specific Selection Policy and Standards so that they are available in advance of the selection period which will open on 1st May 2025. These will include a detailed breakdown of the specific times, distances and competition results required, the dates between which these standards must be achieved and any other factors which will be taken into consideration for each sport.

Endorsing the General Selection Policy, CGS Chief Executive Jon Doig OBE said; “Glasgow 2026 is fast approaching, with this is an important milestone in our preparations and the first step towards our aim for all team members to have a positive Games experience.

“We have produced a policy that will select a team which will perform with distinction and ensure consistency between sports. Next, this will be supplemented by sport specific standards, ensuring all athletes in Scotland with the aspiration and potential to compete in Glasgow know exactly what they must do to make the team ahead of the selection period opening.”

A copy of the General Selection Policy is available on the selection page in the Glasgow 2026 section of this website. Individual sport policies will be added as they are published.

Athletics

Please note that the qualification period for athletes looking to compete for Team Scotland in athletics will open on 1 January 2025.

The full athletics selection policy, confirming selection standards, team size, events contested and other key information, will be published by March 2025.

While our intention is to circulate the selection policy for athletics as soon as possible, the hope is that this advance information allows athletes and coaches to begin their planning process towards gaining qualification standards from the beginning of 2025.