The 2026 Commonwealth Games could yet be staged after all, with Glasgow tipped to be the host.
A scaled back version of the Games has been in the offing, but as yet no host city has stepped forward to take the reins from Victoria, Australia who pulled out last year due to rising costs.
The state had to pay the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) nearly £200 million in compensation after withdrawing.
Reports surfacing from Paris at the weekend suggested that an announcement was imminent on the Scottish city taking on the event which it last hosted in 2014 and cost £534 million.
The CGF has attempted to revamp its quadrennial Games to help host cities, with a reported 10 events expected for Glasgow over the 11-day competition.
The city would use only existing stadia, with squash having been staged successfully at Scotstoun. However, with the Commonwealth Games set to be slimmed down, the sport is no certainty to be included on any programme, although being an Olympic sport will undoubtedly help its cause.
Ian Reid, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said in April: “We believe our concept provides the CGF with a viable, cost effective and exciting solution which importantly won’t involve significant sums of public funding. We look forward to discussing the concept further with the CGF, our member sports, athletes and wider partners.”
Reid had also claimed that a scaled down event could be staged for £150 million.
Earlier this year, Malaysia said it has been offered £100m to help stage the 2026 event.