Minister of Home Affairs Attends 12^th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting Ahead of the 23^rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

The Minister of Home Affairs- Reverend Honorable Manasseh Maelanga has attended the 12^th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (12CSMM) held in Glasgow, Scotland from 21^st to 22^nd July, 2026 ahead of the 23^rd Commonwealth Games (XXIII) which began on 23^rd July and runs until 2^nd August 2026.

The Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting is usually held ahead of the Official Opening of the Commonwealth Games, whereby Ministers responsible for Sports of the Commonwealth Countries met to discuss matters, common issues and challenges affecting Commonwealth Sports. The meeting brought together sports ministers, senior officials, and representatives from Commonwealth Member Countries to discuss how sport can advance sustainable development, inclusion, youth engagement, integrity, and climate resilience.

The Minister during the meeting made interventions on two (2) of the agenda items relating to Sport Integrity Efforts in the Commonwealth (covering issues such as Anti-Doping, Good Governance, Anti-Corruption, Safeguarding and Anti-Discrimination) and Reimagining the Games. On the former, the Minister stated in his remarks that we are clear about the sovereignty of our nation and our governments’ responsibility for everything that happens in our country. He furthered stated that we are also clear that good governance in sport is a non-negotiable and that is supported by our colleagues in the NGO sports sector. With this comes autonomy based on good governance; governance which continues to develop with the impact of artificial intelligence and gene modification as clear examples. Governments are committed to transparency and accountability in terms of operations and finances to ensure that the door to sport participation and physical activity, with its benefits for our people, is wide open.

On the latter, in terms of reimagining the games, Minister Maelanga stressed that the Commonwealth Games are the pinnacle event for many of our athletes and as such must remain accessible for our sports men and women. He also said that where possible, there must be support to the concept of introducing some qualification standards as this ensures the Games are high profile and it can also increase quality and visibility with more people wanting to watch.

‘The Games Organisers here in Glasgow have performed a wonderful job in preparing and presenting the Games in 2 years and for that we thank them’, he said at the meeting. The Ministers’ comment was made in light of the withdrawal of another initial host only for Glasgow to come to the rescue to host the 2026 Games. The Minister then appealed to Commonwealth Sport and our good friends from India who will be hosting the next Games to ensure that all countries can compete equally come the 2030 Games in Amdavad, Gujarat, in India.

The theme of the 2026 Games was “Reimagining the Power of Sport towards Healthier, Fairer and Equitable Commonwealth Communities”. Glasgow is hosting the Commonwealth Games for the second time (after 2014). Scotland, however, has now hosted the Games four times in total, Edinburgh in 1970 and 1986 and Glasgow in 2014 and 2026. The 2026 edition features 74 Commonwealth Games Associations competing across 10 sports in a streamlined programme.

Minister Rev Honourable Manasseh Maelanga presenting his statements at the 12th Commonwealth Ministers Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland