A Commonwealth reimagined: From medal tables to community impact

Now that the successful Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games have come to a close, attention now turns towards Amdavad 2030 and the centenary of the Commonwealth Games. The return of cricket, hockey, archery, and shooting has already prompted debate about the future direction of the Games and what they should truly represent. The discussion should not simply be about which sports return, but why they return, who benefits, and what legacy they leave behind.

The Youth Charter welcomes the prospect of a broader sporting programme. Cricket, hockey, and archery each possess rich traditions across the Commonwealth and offer significant opportunities for participation, education, and community engagement. However, the real opportunity lies beyond elite competition.

If the Commonwealth Games are to remain relevant in the twenty-first century, they must become as much a celebration of social impact as sporting excellence.

The reality remains that the medal table is still largely dominated by nations with the greatest economic resources, largest athlete delegations, and long-established sporting infrastructures. This reflects decades of investment and historical advantage, much of which has its roots in the Commonwealth’s colonial past. Whilst sporting excellence should always be celebrated, there is also room to recognise another equally important measure of success.

What if Commonwealth nations were also recognised for the social impact sport creates within communities?

Imagine a complementary Sport for Development and Peace Legacy Index, sitting alongside the traditional medal table, rewarding nations for delivering measurable impact through programmes that address: youth employment and entrepreneurship, education and lifelong learning, physical and mental wellbeing, crime prevention and violence reduction, gender equality, disability inclusion, community cohesion, climate action and environmental stewardship, and peacebuilding and intercultural dialogue.

Such an approach would reflect the founding values of the Commonwealth itself - cooperation, equality, and shared prosperity. Rather than diminishing sporting achievement, this would broaden its meaning.

The reintroduction of cricket, hockey, and archery should therefore be accompanied by an expectation that every participating nation develops community-based legacy programmes linked to these sports before, during, and after the Games. National governing bodies, athletes, schools, universities, youth organisations, and local authorities could all contribute to measurable social outcomes that become part of the Commonwealth’s lasting legacy.

This is not about creating an alternative medal table that replaces athletic performance. It is about introducing a Commonwealth Community Impact Table, recognising those nations that use sport as a catalyst for sustainable development.

Such an innovation would create a more equitable framework for smaller nations whose sporting resources may never match those of Australia, England, Canada, or India, yet whose community innovation and social leadership often far exceed expectations.

The Youth Charter has long advocated that the true legacy of any major sporting event should be measured not simply by medals won, but by lives transformed.

The Commonwealth has a unique opportunity to lead the global sporting movement by aligning future Games with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and embedding Sport for Development and Peace within its governance, investment, and legacy planning.

Ahmedabad 2030 should not only celebrate one hundred years of Commonwealth sport, but it should also celebrate one hundred years of Commonwealth communities.

As discussions continue around the future programme of sports, including the proposed return of cricket, hockey, archery, and shooting reported in relation to Ahmedabad 2030, the bigger conversation must be about creating a Games that values participation, opportunity, and community transformation alongside podium success.

Ultimately, the greatest victories are not always those won on the field of play; sometimes, they are won in the streets, schools, and communities where sport first inspires hope, builds belonging, and changes lives.