Organisers have stated the Games will come at no cost to the public purse, with funding coming from compensation paid to the CGF after the Australians pulled out. The UK government will provide financial support in the event of any increased security threat but had refused to completely underwrite the Games.

Part of the concern from the Scottish Government over hosting the Games came from “reputational risk”. There was a worry that after hosting a successful event in 2014 that met with a positive response, the pared-back nature of the new proposal may look less impressive in comparison.

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Flagging an agreement was close at the weekend, CGA president Ben Houston said it was not the time to walk away from a Games that had “inspired for generations”.

“We look forward to working collaboratively toward an outcome that benefits Commonwealth nations, their athletes, coaches and fans,” Houston said. “They are irreplaceable in terms of providing global competition and, in the absence of an Australian host, it is in the interests of Australian sport that we make an overseas Games a reality.”

Ian Reid, chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said “public funds would not be required” in order to deliver a “world-class” Games in time.

“This is a really exciting opportunity and we will be working hard over the coming days to bring the final pieces of the puzzle together,” he said.

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