The Commonwealth Mile is a tribute to Roger Bannister and John Landy’s duel over the gap on the 1954 Video games in Vancouver
Organisers of the 2026 Commonwealth Video games have introduced the mile will substitute the 1500m in Glasgow.
The Commonwealth Mile, which is able to see athletes racing over the gap on the Video games for the primary time in 60 years, is a tribute to Roger Bannister and John Landy’s fearsome combat over 4 laps in 1954.
Dubbed “The Miracle Mile”, Bannister and Landy clocked 3:58.8 and three:59.6 respectively on the then British Empire and Commonwealth Video games – the primary time that two males had ever damaged the four-minute barrier in the similar race.
The pulsating contest, watched via 35,000 other folks in Vancouver, happened simply 3 months after Bannister become the primary user in historical past to report a sub-four-minute mile, at Oxford’s Iffley Highway.
Landy therefore diminished the arena report to three:58.0, that means their showdown in Canada become probably the most expected occasions of that complete Video games.
Roger Bannister (Getty)
A sculpture of the race-deciding second, with slightly anything else keeping apart Bannister and Landy on the end line, was once later positioned out of doors the Empire Stadium in reminiscence of the duel.
The mile lasted till the 1966 Video games in Jamaica, sooner than it was once changed with the 1500m on the 1970 version in Edinburgh.
Girls by no means were given the chance to compete within the mile on the Video games – their longest race in 1954 was once the 220 backyard dash – and the primary legitimate girls’s mile report was once the 4:37.0 set via Anne Smith in 1967.
“The mile is the quintessential Commonwealth athletics event whose return I very much welcome,” mentioned International Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who advised the development to Glasgow organisers.
“From 1930 through to 1966, the mile was the blue-riband event of each Games and the magic of the mile continues to resonate. A ticket to watch its Commonwealth final will be one of the must-have seats in Glasgow next year.”
Seb Coe (Getty)
In addition to the creation of the mile, the blended 4x400m – the development has already gave the impression at each the Olympics and international championships – will make its debut on the Commonwealth Video games.
Para Athletics may also see athletes competing in leaping, throwing and monitor occasions, with all 3 disciplines being integrated at the programme for the primary time in Video games historical past.
“This compelling medal event programme continues the red thread of innovation that is a key component of Glasgow 2026’s compelling concept – in terms of sports formats and disciplines, the compact number of sports, and concentrated number of existing venues,” mentioned Leader Government of the Commonwealth Video games Federation, Katie Sadleir.
“We’re extremely joyful to peer such an exhilarating medal programme for the Commonwealth Video games that may be sure you satisfaction and excite lovers attending in-person or staring at at house throughout every day of pageant.
“With more para sport medals than ever before in the Games, Glasgow 2026 promises to be a truly inclusive festival of sport and celebration of culture and diversity that inspires our athletes.”
Olivia Breen (Mark Shearman)
Males’s occasions:
100m; 200m; 400m; 800m; mile; 5000m; 10,000m; 3000m steeplechase; 110m hurdles; 400m hurdles; prime leap; pole vault; lengthy leap; triple leap; shot put; discus throw; hammer throw; javelin throw; 10,000m race stroll; decathlon; 4 x 100m relay
Girls’s occasions:
100m; 200m; 400m; 800m; mile; 5000m; 10,000m; 3000m steeplechase; 100m hurdles; 400m hurdles; prime leap; pole vault; lengthy leap; triple leap; shot put; discus throw; hammer throw; javelin throw; 10,000m race stroll; heptathlon; 4 x 100m relay
Blended occasions:
4x400m relay
Males’s para occasions:
T12 100m; T38 100m; T47 100m; T20 1500m; T54 1500m; F42-44/F61-64 discus throw; F57 shot put; T20 lengthy leap
Girls’s para occasions:
T38 100m; T47 100m; T38 200m; T54 400m; T54 1500m; F42-44/F61-64 discus throw; F57 shot put; T38 lengthy leap
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