Final day of Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with multiple gold medals
The final day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow featured gold medals in netball, bowls, judo, and cycling, with Emma Finucane winning her fourth gold. Events included netball, bowls, and cycling competitions.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow concluded on Sunday with a final day of intense competition, as 14 gold medals were awarded across netball, bowls, judo, and cycling. The games, which were hosted by Scotland after the original host, Victoria, Australia, withdrew due to cost concerns, saw more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories compete in 10 sports over 10 days.
Netball
England's netball team suffered heartbreak in the bronze medal match, losing 68-50 to world number one Australia. The defeat meant England finished fourth for the second consecutive games. In the gold medal match, New Zealand defeated Jamaica 56-48 to claim their first Commonwealth title in 16 years.
Bowls
The men's pairs final went to a dramatic extra end, with Northern Ireland's Adam McEwen and Gary Kelly holding their nerve to beat England and take gold.
Judo
England's Emma Reid won gold in the women's 78kg division with a flip and arm lock, defeating her Australian opponent.
Cycling
Welsh cyclist Emma Finucane made history by winning her fourth gold medal of the games in the Keirin, having already won the sprint, team sprint, and time trial. The 23-year-old became the first Welshwoman to win four gold medals at a single Commonwealth Games. Earlier in the games, Scotland's Josh Kerr delivered gold on home soil in the 3,000 metres, while in the men's individual pursuit, Scotland's Finn Graham took silver after being beaten by England's Matthew Robertson.
Closing Ceremony
The games ended with a closing ceremony featuring Scottish music, including a performance by Simple Minds, and a handover to the next host city, Ahmedabad, India, which will stage the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Medals Table
Australia finished top of the medals table, with England in second place. Scotland placed fifth, Wales ninth, and Northern Ireland 12th.
Future of the Games
The slimmed-down format of the Glasgow games, with fewer sports and a lower cost, has sparked debate about the future of the Commonwealth Games. Steve Cram, a former Olympic and Commonwealth medallist, said the stripped-down model could be "more palatable and doable for many cities." Netball players stressed the importance of the games for non-Olympic sports, with one saying, "The Commonwealth Games is the pinnacle of our sport." The Commonwealth Games Federation has indicated it will bring back a few more sports but will not exceed the current number.
Other Highlights
English para-athlete Kadeena Cox won a silver medal in cycling, taking four seconds off her personal best. She praised fellow athletes Josh Kerr, Georgia Hunter-Bell, Emily Campbell, Sophie Hahn, and Thomas Young for their performances. Emily Campbell broke a games record in weightlifting, while Sophie Hahn and Thomas Young both won gold with games records in para-sport events.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emma Finucane became the most successful Welshwoman in Commonwealth Games history. | |||
| Emma Finucane won her fourth gold medal in the Keirin. | |||
| Ahmedabad, India, will host the next Commonwealth Games in 2030. | · | ||
| Australia finished top of the medals table, with England second. | · | ||
| Emma Reid won judo gold for England in the 78-kilogram division. | · | ||
| Emily Campbell broke a Games record in weightlifting. | · | · | |
| Emma Finucane won a gold medal for Wales in the 1000m time trial. | · | · | |
| England lost the netball bronze medal match 68-50 to Australia. | · | · | |
| Glasgow agreed to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the original host withdrew. | · | · | |
| Josh Kerr broke a mile world record. | · | · | |
| Josh Kerr won a gold medal in the 3,000 metres for Scotland. | · | · | |
| Josh Kerr won gold for Scotland in the 1500 meters on home soil. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This channel provided extensive coverage of the final day's events, including live reports from Glasgow and an interview with former athlete Steve Cram. It focused on the broader context of the games, such as the last-minute hosting by Glasgow and the potential future of a slimmed-down Commonwealth Games. The tone was analytical and forward-looking, with a strong emphasis on the logistical and political challenges facing the event.
- “Josh Kerr delivering gold for Scotland on home soil”
- “Emma Finucane made history with a gold medal for Wales in the thousand metres time trial”
- “the stripped-down size, less sports, probably tighter program as well, is something which would be more palatable and doable for many cities”
This segment focused on the existential questions facing the Commonwealth Games, including their relevance and future. It included interviews with netball players and fans who stressed the importance of the games for non-Olympic sports. The tone was reflective and slightly concerned, highlighting the reduced number of sports, lack of free-to-air TV in England, and the absence of some high-profile athletes.
- “The Commonwealth Games is the pinnacle of our sport every netballer wants to go to the Commonwealth Games”
- “Glasgow weren't meant to host but stepped in late on after Victoria in Australia pulled out due to costs”
- “Ahmedabad in India will host in 2030”
This report highlighted Emma Finucane's historic achievement and the closing ceremony, with a focus on the atmosphere and the success of the games despite the last-minute change. It also noted the medals table standings. The tone was celebratory and upbeat, emphasising the resilience of the event and the athletes.
- “Welsh cycling star Emma Finucane has made history by becoming the first sprint cyclist to nab four gold medals at the same Commonwealth Games”
- “While old rivals Australia have finished top of the medals table, England at least wrestled their way into second place with a strong finish”
This segment provided a detailed account of the closing ceremony, including the handover to Ahmedabad and a performance by Delta Goodrem. It also recapped the final day's sporting highlights, with a particular focus on Emma Finucane's clean sweep and the emotional moments for Scottish athletes. The tone was descriptive and celebratory, with a sense of closure.
- “Scotland's parting shot to the sound of drums and bagpipes”
- “Emma Finucane went into the record books with an outstanding clean sweep in the velodrome”
This brief bulletin summarised the final day's key results, focusing on Emma Finucane's record and the medals table. It also mentioned the closing ceremony with Simple Minds. The tone was concise and factual, with no analysis or commentary.
- “Wales' Emma Finucane has become the most successful Welshwoman in the games history after winning a fourth track cycling gold”
- “Australia still lead the medals table before Scottish rock legend Simple Minds close the games tonight”
This segment featured an interview with para-cyclist Kadeena Cox, who won a silver medal. The focus was on her personal experience, her multiple sclerosis, and her praise for other British athletes. The tone was warm and conversational, highlighting the human stories behind the medals.
- “Kadeena Cox, who got a silver yesterday”
- “Josh Kerr... after watching him break that mild world record”
- “Emily Campbell... breaking that games record”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.