2014 organisers praised in review

Oct 11 2012

The organisation of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games could act as a "blueprint" for future competitions, according to the body which oversees the running of the event.

Bruce Robertson, vice-president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), said Glasgow's organising committee has so far been "creative" and "exceptional" in some of its areas of preparation.

Mr Robertson chaired a four-day review by the CGF's Co-ordination Commission, which included visits to the athletes' village and venues such as the newly-completed Emirates Arena.

"Overall it's been very positive," he said. "The organising committee's plans are where they need to be: they've got good people on board and good skills.

"The exceptional parts of the bid are the legacy value of the Glasgow City Council legacy programmes and also the Scottish Government's - they are already producing results."

Mr Robertson agreed that strategies being used by Glasgow's organising committee could be held as a "blueprint" for the future. He added: "We plan to take some of those examples and build them into our bidding process for future organising committees so that they get more value out of their investment in the Games.

"In certain areas they are very creative. Especially the strategy of combining procurement and sponsorship, that's an area we've talked to the next organising committee, Gold Coast (Australia), about and suggested they come and have a look at how Glasgow has organised themselves."

Mr Robertson said no concerns had arisen as a result of the review and that a number of areas are ahead of where they need to be.

Lord Smith, chairman of the organising committee for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, said: "I'm very pleased indeed. What perhaps struck me most of all was that they are talking about using some of the things we are doing here as a blueprint for Gold Coast and future Games, and that is very heartening."

Commonwealth Games minister Shona Robison said: "At this stage of preparations, this is a tremendous endorsement that recognises Glasgow 2014 and Games partners are on track to deliver the best-ever Commonwealth Games."