Hockey Australia slams ‘lighter and leaner’ games as they hope move a ‘one-off’

Hockey Australia’s chief has hit out at the sport’s snub from a stripped-back Commonwealth Games and says the country has lost one of its strongest medal chances.

Field hockey, as well as cricket, diving and rugby among others, was left on the outer as the list of sports for the Glasgow Games were unveiled on Tuesday morning (AWST).

The 2026 event will be held in Glasgow after the Scottish city picked up the remains after Victoria abandoned their hosting rights due to a cost shortfall.

Hockey loses its place for the first time since 1998 while the one-off experiment with women’s T20 cricket, in which Australia captured the gold medal in Birmingham, has also been shelved.

Organisers have declared the desire for a financially sustainable event, with much of the funding coming from the $300 million exit fee paid by the Victorian government, and the short turnaround time was the main reason for the trimmed-down program.

The future of the event is highly clouded entering the Scottish edition in two years time, but Hockey Australia chief executive David Pryles said he hopes the sport can return.

“It is a disappointing announcement, not just for hockey but for all of the sports who have missed out in the reduced format,” he said.

“There was always a lot of pressure on the Commonwealth Games Federation with less than two years to go until the Games in Glasgow and I know I join all our Commonwealth compatriots in saying we hope this is a temporary adjustment to the Games schedule.

“We have a strong relationship with Commonwealth Games Australia, and we look forward to working with them and know they will do a fantastic job in advocating for a full-strength Games in future, which includes hockey.”

Australia’s men’s and women’s teams have combined for 11 gold medals at the event.

“When we started pulling this concept together just under a year ago, our focus was on creating a Games that was different,” Commonwealth Games Scotland CEO Jon Doig said.

“Glasgow 2026 will have all the drama, passion and joy that we know the Commonwealth Games delivers, even if it is to be lighter and leaner than some previous editions.”

Only athletics and swimming were guaranteed a start in Glasgow and boxing, track cycling, gymnastics, judo and weightlifting also made the cut.