Rob Shorthouse, a spokesman for Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Games bid committee, said he didn’t want the competing cities from old and new Scotland to get into mud-slinging. Glasgow is bidding against Abuja Nigeria and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The Halifax-based Chronicle Herald reports that Shorthouse said, “I don’t think this is a competition about which events will be held in different cities in the future. It’s about the best bid.
“There’s no reason for the competing cities to tear strips off each other. We wish them good luck, but obviously we hope they both fail.
“Technically we have the strongest bid and we already have first-class facilities” Shorthouse added that the new venues promised for Glasgow, including the velodrome, will be built “no matter what”.
Glasgow’s bid is being supported by all 32 local councils in Scotland as well as the Scottish and U.K. governments, reports the newspaper. There is also support form several athletes, film and music stars.
According to the Chronicle Herald there are also a few dozen people who live in Canada backing Scotland’s bid, including the Sons of Scotland in Canada.
On the down side an opposition member of the Scottish Parliament said the cost of the Games was a major concern. He said although Glasgow already had many facilities built, there are another three needed as well as a velodrome, which was to be built in Edinburgh.
The MSP said, “there’s still a need to invest in facilities. The only thing in Glasgow’s favour is the time between now and 2014.
“There’s been a lot of hype and glossing over of issues. Halifax is even further behind. And if Nigeria gets a decent bid together they’re in with a very good chance”, he said.
The Clydesdale Bank, a major sponsor of the Commonwealth Games, has printed 10-pound notes to promote Glasgow’s bid.
