The Commonwealth Games Federation Evaluation Commission was in Glasgow this week evaluating the city’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. After completing a four-day study the commission called the bid “truly impressive”.
The five member team visited venues including Celtic Park, Hampden, Ibrox, and the site of a new indoor arena in Glasgow’s east end and witnessed presentations on themes including accommodation and security.
John Tierney, head of the commission, said the fact-finding trip by his committee to Glasgow had been “informative and productive”. He said all aspects of the city’s bid from infrastructure to political support has been “truly impressive”.
But he added there were areas that need to be clarified.
Tierney said, “your overall Games plan and the manner in which you have woven the concept of the Games into the city is truly impressive. Your overall Games master plan, the sports venues, the concept of the athletes’ village, the availability of accommodation, transport and the general backdrop of Glasgow presents a great Games opportunity. We have seen first hand how important these Games are to Glasgow and Scotland.
“We can sense a decision to award the Games to Glasgow will inspire this wonderful country and support is growing international confidence”.
Tierney said no area of the bid had disappointed him while unnamed areas of clarification were inevitable in such a detailed process. “There are obviously significant areas where you bid is in great shape and there are some areas where clearly we would suggest there is a little more work to be done. There is a considerable mountain of requirements, which are not only encased in the Commonwealth Games constitution and our regulations. But we have, across the 17 sports, manuals for the delivery of every one of those sports. We’re in a process of evaluation, it’s a work in progress”.
According to Sportinglife.com Glasgow 2014 has until July 5 to respond to the points raised by the inspectors before they report on September 9.
Glasgow 2014 bid director Derek Casey said he believes the matters raised by the inspectors will help improve the plans. He said, “we have really found this helpful. We don’t just want to win the bid, we don’t just want to have a good Games. We want to have a great Games.
“Over 600 pages it would not be surprising if there were points of clarification on both sides. We will keep on improving this bid until the very last moment”.
Casey added, “the visit has been demanding of us but also extremely interesting and informative. The Evaluation Committee has looked at every aspect of our bid in great detail. We hope that they have seen the strength of what Glasgow has to offer”.
Abuja is Glasgow’s only competition for the 2014 Games. The committee visited the city last week.
Tierney reportedly said the technical evaluation will have a major impact on the decision of the 71 member countries. He said, “the bidder who has the most technical bid is putting themselves in a position where they should have an advantage. But you do recognize we are talking about a democratic process that does have a huge social and political series of involvement. You would have to ask the 71 constituents how this will impact on their vote”.
Meanwhile Glasgow launched a new re-designed website at www.glasgow2014.com Thursday which has state-of-the-art graphics, interactive features and games. The bid committee says the website showcases Glasgow, the people and the communities involved in winning the Games and invites more people to join the 1.7 million organizations and individuals who have already signed up to Back the Bid.
The re-designed website features guides to each 2014 venue, links to the 2014 bid documents, briefings and breaking news on the bids as well as images available to download, and complete listings of the 1.7 million individuals and organizations who have signed up to Back the Bid and an online form for more people to sign up.
The site also includes a “spectacular” two-minute “fly-through” of the Athletes Village and interviews with bid director Derek Casey and Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell.
