The Scottish Government hosted the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting ahead of the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games under the theme Reimagining the Power of Sport: Creating Healthier, Fairer and Connected Commonwealth Communities. The meeting, held on 22 July, was chaired by Hon Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs of Scotland. His Royal Highness Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, delivered a special address for the meeting.
The Glasgow meeting was an important opportunity to reflect on the call from leaders during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 in Samoa, stressing the importance of sports for peace, inclusive and sustainable development, and encouraging efforts to secure the future and impact of the Commonwealth Games.
The Samoa delegation actively participated in the discussions, particularly on proposals for strengthening Commonwealth collaboration on sport and the contribution of the sport sector to economic growth and investment. Samoa welcomed the Commonwealth Games reset proposals and the reimagined approach to the Commonwealth Games movement.
The next Games will be the Malta 2027 Youth Games and the centenary Games in India in 2030. Commonwealth ministers strongly supported the 2034 Commonwealth Games being held in Africa.
The outcome of the Glasgow sports ministers meeting will feed into the Commonwealth Sport Summit, which will take place in Antigua and Barbuda this November on the margins of CHOGM 2026.
The Samoa delegation joined the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, and other Pacific ministers, delegations, Commonwealth Games associations and athletes for an Australian-hosted event, “A Celebration of Oceania at Glasgow 2026”, where Pacific athletes showcased their cultures and stories before attending the opening of the Commonwealth Games.
The Samoa High Commission to the United Kingdom supported the delegation during the meetings and side events held on the margins of the ministerial meeting and Games. Samoa’s Honorary Consul to the United Kingdom also met with the delegation while in Glasgow.
The Honourable Seuamuli Leutuga Fasi Toma, Minister of Sports and Recreation, led the Government delegation for the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where he also met His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Games were officially opened by His Majesty King Charles III on 23 July. The Honourable Minister met with Samoa’s Commonwealth Games 2026 team, where he offered words of encouragement and his best wishes to all Samoan athletes for a successful and safe campaign during the Glasgow Games.
Press Release | Government of Samoa
