Glasgow bids farewell to Commonwealth Games with handover to Ahmedabad

As Glasgow bid farewell to the Commonwealth Games with a grand and colourful closing ceremony at the OVO Hydro here on Sunday (August 2, 2026), perhaps no words captured the spirit of the host city better than those of celebrated Scottish poet Jackie Kay.

In a moving love letter to Glasgow, with a backdrop of videos showing residents at the city’s iconic landmarks, Kay posed a simple yet profound question: “….What is Glasgow if not a place of welcome to the citizens of the world?”

It was a sentiment that resonated throughout the 11-day Games, during which the Scottish city earned widespread praise for its warmth, kindness, hospitality and impeccable organisation.

The ceremonial handover of the Commonwealth Games flag to Olympic and World champion Neeraj Chopra and Indian Olympic Association president P. T. Usha and the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghavi, accompanied by the voice of Scottish singer Shereen Cutkelvin, symbolically transferred the Games from Glasgow to Ahmedabad, host of the 2030 (centenary) Games.

President of the Indian Olympic Association PT Usha hands the flag to India’s Neeraj Chopra during the closing ceremony.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters

When India took over the cultural show from Glasgow, the Indian audience erupted in joy.

Titled ‘The World is One Family: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, the opening ensemble celebrated the enduring Indian philosophy of universal brotherhood while commemorating the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram. Led by actress and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar, with a musical score by Shankar Mahadevan and choreography by Shiamak Davar and his troupe, the performance presented India’s rich cultural heritage and its message of unity and hospitality to the world.

Shankar Mahadevan’s sons Shivam and Siddharth, along with the energetic performance of renowned Gujarati and Bollywood playback singer Bhoomi Trivedi, added more vibrancy and heft to the spectacle and brought the Indian segment alive on the Glasgow stage.

Indian sitarist and singer Rishab Rikhiram Sharma performs with other artistes during the closing ceremony of the 23rd Commonwealth Games (CWG), at OVO Hydro, in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday, (August 2, 2026).
| Photo Credit:
PTI

Earlier, singer-songwriter Sandi Thom set the tone for the night with the song ‘Proud to Be From Scotland’, accompanied by the tribal drum band Clann An Drumma.

Australian singer Delta Goodrem then welcomed the athletes with a medley of her greatest hits as volunteers carrying the flags of the 74 participating nations and territories entered the arena. She followed it with a stirring rendition of Warrior, accompanied by archive footage celebrating memorable moments from the Games.

Goodrem later invited Scottish singer Cammy Barnes onto the stage, and the duo performed John Farnham’s popular anthem ‘You’re the Voice, backed by a choir and traditional Scottish pipers, drawing one of the loudest ovations of the evening.

The celebrations gathered further momentum as Primal Scream’s hit ‘Loaded’ came alive through a fine collaboration featuring bagpipers, community performers and Glaswegian-Nigerian rapper Bemz.

The mood then turned reflective with Jackie Kay’s poignant poem before the spotlight shifted to electro-trad band ‘Elephant Sessions’. Their pulsating performance, accompanied by poet and musician Hamish Kiernan-Hutcheson, showcased Glasgow’s vibrant contemporary spirit.

Later, Scotland’s para-athlete Melanie Woods received the David Dixon Award, presented to the outstanding athlete of the Commonwealth Games in recognition of excellence in performance, fair play and overall contribution to her team’s campaign.

Overall, it was a fitting finale to a glitzy show that seamlessly blended the finest of Scotland’s music, culture and heritage with India’s rich traditions that showcased the shared values of unity, friendship and hospitality that perhaps best define the Commonwealth spirit.