Glasgow’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games received a financial boost Wednesday when Scottish Enterprise Glasgow pledged one million pounds to set up a Games Company to develop the city’s bid for the Commonwealth Games.
Although full economic appraisals have still to be studied, Glasgow expects a successful bid would provide around two billion pounds and 5000 jobs.
Winning the Games would also provide a massive economic and regeneration boost and a legacy of sports facilities and housing, reports the Evening Times.
The money pledged by Scottish Enterprise Glasgow will be used to help fund a range of feasibility studies into the economic benefits, planning strategies and surveys necessary over the next two years as the full details of the bid are developed.
An athletes village for the more than 6000 competitors is likely to be constructed in either Sighthill or Dalmarnock and following the Games the site would become much-needed housing in one of the city’s poorest areas.
Chief executive Ron Culley said, “enticing the Games here is a once in a generation opportunity to secure world exposure and the wider economic benefits such a huge event brings. The Commonwealth Games boasts one of the world’s biggest TV audiences, giving us an unrivalled chance to sell ourselves on the world stage”.
