New Zealand aims for strong medal count at 2026 Commonwealth Games despite program cuts

New Zealand will still aim for a strong medal count at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, despite a reduced program featuring only 10 sports. Key events like athletics, swimming, and gymnastics remain, while rugby sevens, cricket, and squash have been removed. The cutbacks follow the withdrawal of Victoria, Australia, as host due to costs. Glasgow previously hosted the Games in 2014 and will now focus on sports where New Zealand has historically excelled, such as track cycling and swimming. While the absence of sports like road cycling and mountain biking is notable, New Zealand's athletes, including world champion swimmers Erika Fairweather and Lewis Clareburt, are expected to perform well in the remaining events.