Glasgow 2026 chief connects cultural experiences in Hull with creating a new model for global sporting events

The head of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games told of the importance of people power in delivering major events as he addressed a Humber Business Week audience in his home city of Hull.

Phil Batty OBE began his business career in the East Yorkshire city. Now CEO of Glasgow 2026, he said the William Wilberforce 200th Commemorations in 2007 gave him his first involvement in organising big events.

Phil said: “It was the birthplace of so much that has happened since and it was rooted in place – a story that was owned and shared and lived by the city.

He progressed to a key role in Hull’s UK City of Culture 2017 team and he remains vice chair of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture’s board of trustees.

Along the way his focus has shifted to sport and he took on the job of Director of Ceremonies at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, where a changing landscape in the global sporting economy gave him the experience to support Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games rescue mission.

Staging the Games in Birmingham cost £800m. Victoria in Australia informed Commonwealth Sport in July 2023 that it was pulling the plug on hosting the 2026 Games with the cost quoted as $6bn (£2.87bn).

Phil said: “The call went out to all the nations and territories. Major events have grown, with big budgets and on a huge scale, often losing the connectivity with the place they are going to be held.

“Scotland and Glasgow took the brave decision to step forward in the knowledge that the economic climate was not what it was last time in 2014. They said they could do it for £150m without public money – and do it in 18 months.

“We have seen the impact that these events have on places and we were also thinking about what the event could be for the city of Glasgow. Playing to the strengths of the facilities we already have – we are not building a single new venue.”

The overall commitment is to sustainability with a focus on active travel methods, streamlining the sports and para sports which will make up the schedule, and securing the involvement of a voluntary sector which has grown since it played a key part last time Glasgow hosted the Games in 2014.

Phil said: “One of the things that is making all of this possible is Glasgow’s long-term commitment to major events. It hasn’t been afraid to continue to stage events and the investment in the industry means there are people there who started their careers and are now in senior roles in the events industry.

“Because of Glasgow, we now have seven nations who want to host in 2030 and 2034, not just because they want a Commonwealth Games but because they want an event that has adapted to suit the way the world has changed.”

For the parallel with Hull, Phil highlighted the way in which the 2007 Wilberforce Commemorations fuelled the ambition which led to UK City of Culture 10 years later.

He said: “It was a fantastic, 365-day celebration that showed what this place is about. The way people got together and the way the city turned its back on itself and looked out to the world for the first time in many years, and also the fact that we weren’t afraid but were ambitious.

“When you think about taking a 75-metre wind turbine blade and placing it in the city centre the first thing you think about is how do I not tell the planning department? You also have to remember there were things we didn’t get right but isn’t that the whole point of entrepreneurialism?

“I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities that people in this room have given me. Business Week, where I was able to come and spend five days learning about the real world and the people and organisations that keep this city moving.

“It’s about business leaders but that means leaders in all part of a business who are coming together whether that’s in the voluntary sector or the private sector.

“You remember all the wonderful things this city does. Places are electric but they are electric because of the people.”

Pat Coyle, Chair of Humber Business Week, introduced Phil as the keynote speaker at the lunch which has become established as a highlight of the week and has a strong track record of delivering top speakers from a range of sectors.

She said: “Over the years we’ve welcomed people from our own area who have succeeded further afield, plus those who have made their mark in business, culture and sport, and this year we managed to roll of that that into one and the response has been phenomenal with a sell-out crowd and excellent support from sponsors as we celebrate our region’s success.”