Glasgow wins race for 2014 Games
Glasgow has been chosen to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
There were celebrations in the Scottish city as the decision of the 71 voting nations was announced in Sri Lanka, with Glasgow winning by 47 votes to 24.
The XXth Commonwealth Games will take place in Glasgow from 23 July – 3 August 2014, and the next 100 days will be spent putting detailed plans in place to deliver the infrastructure developments outlined in Glasgow’s successful bid.
Over 70% of the venues in Glasgow are already in place, but new builds, including a National Indoor Sports Arena, a National Velodrome and an Athlete’s Village, will be at the heart of a scheme to breathe new life into the city’s East End and create a legacy for the future.
Glasgow’s Athlete’s Village will be twice the size of Melbourne’s 2006 Commonwealth Games Village, providing spacious accommodation and training facilities for 6,500 athletes and support staff. After the Games, these desirable new homes on the banks of the River Clyde, will be made available for sale or rent.
Besides regeneration benefits, the Games will also provide Glasgow with a huge opportunity to raise its profile internationally, prompting a surge in tourism in the years that follow 2014.
Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, comments, “This is fantastic news! 2014 will catapult Glasgow tourism to new heights.
“Over the last 20 years, Glasgow has very successfully used major events and accolades to position itself in the international marketplace, and we fully intend to use the 2014 Commonwealth Games to raise Glasgow’s profile still further.
“Glasgow has worked hard to create the modern, dynamic city that we see today and the Games will give us a chance to show it off to a potential audience of approximately one billion people world-wide.”
It is anticipated that the net economic benefit of the Games to Glasgow will be £26 million, while the benefit to Scotland will be £81 million. In the three years following the Games, there could be a net increase of 4% in tourism, which equates to a further £30 million in expenditure.
A further benefit of the Games will be showcasing Glasgow’s outstanding facilities for major events and conferences.
Joe Aitken, Head of Events at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, added, “This fantastic win is a resounding vote of confidence in Glasgow’s event management skills. We believe that this, combined with the highly developed infrastructure that will be in place by 2014, will result in more major events and conferences coming to the city.”
GLASGOW 2014 - FIVE YEARS TO GO
23 July, 2009
On 23 July, James McCallum (Commonwealth Games bronze medallist) joined the Minister for Public Health and Sport, Shona Robison at the site of the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome to mark the five year countdown to the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Celtic Park. 
The ceremony will launch the biggest multi-sports event Scotland has ever hosted, attracting 6500 athletes and officials from the 71 nations of the Commonwealth, as well as hundreds of thousands of spectators from around the world. In the run up to the 2014, preparations will be on-going to deliver the Games, providing athletes with an outstanding sporting experience and showcasing Scotland as a country with world-class sporting venues, a passionate and proud population, and a vibrant, stylish and diverse culture "We want to create a lasting legacy which will leave people from all backgrounds, in every area of Scotland, better off from this experience. Our priority is to get the country moving. We want to see more people physically active and living long, healthy lives. Our legacy plans will breathe new life into communities, create a strong and flourishing economy, enhance our reputation across the globe and ensure the whole of Scotland is fit for the future." Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "The next five years will be very exciting as we witness a key stage in the ongoing transformation and regeneration of Glasgow, with the delivery of many infrastructure projects that will be of enormous benefit to the city and country. These projects include the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village, the completion of the M74, the refurbishment of Scotstoun Stadium, the National Arena at the SECC, the National Indoor Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the continued regeneration of the Clyde and the expansion of retailing centres in the UK's biggest shopping centre outside of London. "While some of these are directly related to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, all will play a vital part in delivering a memorable Games for Glasgow, Scotland and our visitors. It is important to remember that beyond the Games, each of these projects will for many years be a key factor in the city's social, physical and economic wellbeing, so it is fair to say that the next five years will be a momentous period in Glasgow's history. There are now tremendous opportunities in Glasgow - for example, we are well on our way to delivering our commitment to provide an apprenticeship place for every suitably-qualified Glasgow school leaver this year, a major part of our efforts to ensure the Games leave a lasting legacy for the city." 
The Glasgow 2014 Games may be five years away but work is well underway to deliver a Games that will be outstanding and remembered. This five year moment is a key milestone, marking all that has been achieved and the many positive changes that's still to come before and after the Games. 
WSP appointed engineers for
2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village
9 July, 2009
WSP has been appointed as the engineers for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village.
The consultancy joins a consortium of firms, which includes Davis Langdon as project and cost management and RMJM as masterplanners and lead designers. 
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village
The project will lead to the creation of 700 homes and related accommodation for up to 8,000 athletes and officials, with a further 765 homes planned after the games.
The aim is to transform the deprived east end of Glasgow into a more desirable residential area. The proposals for the Games phase of the project will regenerate a 38 hectare waterfront site and have been prepared in discussion with the Organising Committee of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Paul Stallan, European Design Director of RMJM said: “RMJM has designed a beautiful and inspired urban village for the East End of Glasgow, a village that will accommodate visiting athletes in the first instance, but most importantly post the 2014 Games will provide a wonderful environment for a new family focused community to grow and regenerate.”
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