The three cities bidding to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Abuja Nigeria, Glasgow Scotland and Halifax Canada, were in Melbourne to make ten-minute presentations to the 16-member executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation Saturday.
Nigeria appealed for international support for its 2014 bid, which will coincide with the centennial of the country’s unification.
Yakubu Gowon, head of Nigeria’s bid and former head of state told members of the Nigerian contingent, “ours is not just a Nigeria bid, but the African bid. I believe that Nigeria has contributed to the growth of the Commonwealth. I think this is the time we need their (Commonwealth member nations) collective support to win the bid”.
First Minister Jack McConnell emphasized Glasgow’s historic role in the Empire. He said the fact that Glasgow had never hosted the Games was “one of those wrongs that needs to be righted”.
There are some that think Glasgow is too close to Manchester, host of the 2002 Commonwealth Games. A Canadian broadcast journalist reportedly told McConnell following the presentation that “about an inch separates Glasgow and Manchester on the map” to which McConnell replied “the Games have not been held in Scotland since 1986, and they’ve been held in Canada since then (Victoria 1994). Therefore, I think we have a very strong case for bringing the Games back to Scotland. Manchester is not Scotland”.
There is also pressure on organizers to choose Africa, which has never staged the Games, but McConnell said, “there is a real case for the Games to go to Africa at some point, but I think the bid by Glasgow is stronger at this point”.
The Halifax bid, although regarded as a strong bid, faces local opposition to escalating cost estimates, which have reportedly risen by almost 50 per cent in the few months since the bid was confirmed.
The Halifax bid committee made its presentation first and although each city was allotted 10 minutes the Canadian city’s presentation took more than 16 minutes. Glasgow was offered more time but declined. Its presentation took 11 minutes.
