THE Commonwealth Games will be scaled back even further rather than any public money be spent on hosting the event, the First Minister has said.

John Swinney said he expected the Games would be within budget but gave the commitment it would not cost the taxpayer should there be any extra costs between now and 2026.

Swinney joined officials from the Commonwealth Games and the UK Government in Glasgow for the official launch of Glasgow as the host of the 2026 Games.

(Image: PA)

READ NEXT:Sports announced for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

The city has stepped in to save the Games after Victoria in Australia pulled out due to the event being unaffordable.

The First Minister said he had to be assured there would be enough time to deliver the games and the scaled back event could be delivered at no extra cost to the Scottish Government.

Speaking in Glasgow, Games officials confirmed the budget of £100m and a contingency of £24m.

Jon Doig, of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “We have got huge confidence in Glasgow as a place to hold the games.”

(Image: PA)

Swinney said: “What we managed to negotiate, was the substantial investment from the Commonwealth Games Federation of about £100 million. A contingency of about £24m which will be drawn on, should that be necessary.

“But then also a commitment that if all of that is not sufficient, then the Games programme has got to be reduced so that there's no call on the public purse.”

READ NEXT: McGills boss links bus franchising plans to ferry fiasco

Ian Murray, Scottish Secretary repeated the commitment that the budget was finite.

He said: “I am confident there won’t be any public money. I’m confident it can be delivered within that envelope. There is no public money available.”

Both Murray and Swinney said the city wold benefit from hosting the Games.

Whereas in 2014 the Games provided the Emirates Arena, housing at the Athletes Village in Dalmarnock and also the Hydro was completed in time to be used, this time no new venues or infrastructure will be delivered.

Swinney added: “I think there'll be there were two particular benefits.

"One will be there will be an enhancement of a number of the sporting facilities in the city of Glasgow as a consequence of the investment that is coming in from the Commonwealth Games Federation.

"And secondly there is the opportunity for a major sporting event to be right here in the heart of the city in Scotland, where individuals can spectate and view and observe all of these, and all of that, I think, helps to encourage more and more people to be involved in sport and in the enhancement of their own well-being."

Murray said: "There's infrastructure obviously going to be put in place to make sure that the stadium is going to be up to scratch and the spectators will absolutely love it.

"So this should be a really exciting opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland to take it forward."

The Commonwealth Games Federation announced the sports for Glasgow 2026.

There will be athletics, swimming, track cycling, boxing, netball, gymnastics, weightlifting, bowls, judo, basketball 3x3, with para events in athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, bowls and basketball.

Four venues have been confirmed with Scotstoun Stadium hosting athletics, Tollcross for the swimming and the Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome as well as the SEC.

Scotstoun Stadium will be improved and temporary stands installed to take the capacity to 11,000 for the Games.

The athlete and officials will stay in existing hotels in and around the city, with organisers pointing to 15,000 rooms in the Glasgow area.

No details of an opening ceremony have been revealed and Mr Doig said it was still being looked at.

There will be a mascot, which has also to be decided.

At the 2014 Games Clyde was the mascot with statues placed all around the city.

Katie Sadleir, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation said what Glasgow was delivering  was new model for the future.

(Image: PA)

With the countries that usually host the full version of the games seeing the cost as too much then other will have the opportunity.

Scotland, England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have been the hosts, with India hosting in 2018.

Ms Sadleir, said: “Full credit to Glasgow. It was a big ask. It is a challenge despite the scaled back event.

“It is a re-set a reframing of the Games of the future.”

She said the model pioneered in Glasgow will allow some of the smaller or less wealthy countries in the Commonwealth to host future games.

She said there has already been interest from others to hold the games in 2030 and beyond.