CEO blog: looking back on a successful Commonwealth Games and ahead to an exciting European Championships
CEO Chris Jones reflects on a Commonwealth Games in which Team England won 21 medals across athletics, and looks ahead to the upcoming European Athletics Championships in Birmingham...
Congratulations to all of our athletes, coaches, support staff and wider Team England colleagues on an outstanding Commonwealth Games campaign. I would like to specifically thank our Team Leader Scott Grace, Talent & Performance Director Sarah Benson, and Team Operations Manager Vicky Griffiths for their combined leadership and direction during the last 18 months as we prepared for Glasgow 2026.
To return home with 21 medals is an impressive achievement, but what makes me most proud is the way our team pulled together throughout the Games and how the team members represented themselves and their country. The performances we witnessed were built on talent, hard work, perseverance, and a genuine commitment to supporting one another, both on and away from the track and field arena.
The Commonwealth Games represent so much more than medals. They provide aspiring athletes with an invaluable opportunity to experience a multi-sport environment and compete on an international stage. For many, this is the beginning of what we hope will be long and successful careers in our sport.
I'd like to thank everyone who has played a part in making this success possible. Our coaches and support teams work tirelessly behind the scenes, while the ongoing backing we receive from important organisations including our member clubs, Sport England, Commonwealth Games England, London Marathon Events, SportsAid and our Talent Hub partners. These partners continue to play a crucial role in helping us to develop the next generation of athletes through our Youth, Junior, and Senior talent pathway programmes.
These Games reminded us of the power of collaboration, inclusion, and shared purpose. Success at events like these is always a team effort, and every athlete, coach, volunteer, partner and official has contributed to something special.
Most importantly, congratulations to every member of our competing team for the part they played in an incredibly successful Team England performance. You have represented yourselves, your families, your clubs and your country with distinction, and you should be immensely proud of what you have achieved.
As we celebrate these successes, our focus now turns to the future. We look forward to continuing our preparations for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Malta in 2027 and beyond to India 2030, helping even more talented athletes realise their full potential on the international stage.
Finally, to those English athletes heading to the European Athletics Championships next week, we wish you every success. We'll be cheering you on every step of the way.
Watching this group grow to compete and support one another throughout the Games has been a privilege. They have shown exactly what can be achieved through talent, hard work, and teamwork. The future of English athletics is incredibly bright, as it is in the other Home Countries, and I couldn't be prouder of everyone who played a part in this success.
Chris