Athletics and swimming would be the only compulsory sports at future Commonwealth Games, under a proposed 'strategic roadmap' to give hosts more flexibility, increase the event's appeal and drive down costs.
Scheduled for Birmingham from July 28 to August 8, next year's Games will feature 19 sports, but the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has recommended "approximately 15 sports" feature at future Games from 2026.
The CGF is still searching for a host city for the 2026 Games, despite an announcement initially planned for 2019.
Athletics and swimming would be afforded protected status, due to their historical place in the programme, popularity, para(sport) inclusion and gender balance.
"As part of an ongoing consultation with International Federations, there are ambitions for a revised sport programme to provide hosts with more flexibility to choose from a wider list of core sports," says the CGF.
"This will now include disciplines that have previously been listed as optional sports, such as T20 cricket, beach volleyball and 3x3 basketball.
"This will allow hosts the ability to propose entirely new sports, relevant to their nation or culture, to enhance cultural showcasing and community engagement."
The CWG adds future hosts need not provide an athletes' village, instead encouraging alternative solutions to reduce costs.
"Our Games need to adapt, evolve and modernise to ensure we continue to maintain our relevance and prestige across the Commonwealth," CFG president Dame Louise Martin tells BBC Sport.
"Our next step is to work closely with our international federation partners to ensure they can contribute to the vision and direction of the roadmap to underpin the future of the Games."
By restricting the number of mandatory sports to just athletics and swimming, the new roadmap will allow hosts the space to choose the likes of surfing, skateboarding and climbing - all new to the Olympic programme - along with esports.
Sports that are especially popular in a host country - such as lacrosse in Canada or kabaddi in India - would also be encouraged.
"Let [hosts] choose what they want to have, what they can do and who they can share with to host the event," Dame Louise says.
"I think that would be a win-win situation for everybody, because then it opens up the Commonwealth Games to other smaller countries and, to me, that is the way forward.
"What we have to do is find the sports that the youth of today work with, so nothing is off the table."
Australia, Canada, India and Sri Lanka have reportedly expressed interest in staging the 2026 Games, but a host has not been secured.
"I am quietly confident that we will be announcing [the 2026 host] in the first quarter of next year, prior to Birmingham," says Dame Louise. "We are working with cities and countries.
"Hopefully, next year, we will be able to showcase that you can bring in other countries to host together. We've been trying hard to get the smaller countries to host a Games, but they are too small to do it the way it's been.
"That is why we are looking at the roadmap to see what is necessary, what do we really need to do.
"If somebody has a fantastic athletics stadium, but the country next to them has got a fantastic shooting range, link up together and see what we can do."
Reuters
