By Bill Heaney
Shettleston is famous for its harriers, so it was no surprise when the MSP asking for an update on the prospect of having the Commonwealth Games 2026 held in Glasgow.
John Mason, Shettleston (SNP), wanted to know how far down the track the Scottish Government’s proposals for Glasgow to potentially host the Commonwealth games would run.
Would it be a marathon or a sprint, and what financial hurdles would have to be jumped to get there and have a repeat of the 2014 Games which brought so many benefits to the city.
Earlier Games in Scotland had seen Vale of Leven athlete Lachie Stewart, pictured right, win the gold medal in the 10,000 metres event at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh.The Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, told Mr Mason: “The Commonwealth games are a hugely important event to Scotland and Scottish athletes—I say that as a former athlete. The Commonwealth Games Federation is working with a number of Commonwealth games associations to reset and reframe the games.
“Commonwealth Games Scotland has confirmed that it is looking at a potential hosting solution in Glasgow if an alternative host cannot be found. That solution would be delivered using investment from the Commonwealth Games Federation, plus commercial income.
“The Scottish Government is continuing discussions with Commonwealth Games Scotland and Glasgow City Council to further assess and develop the proposals, although no formal decision has been made as yet.”
John Mason asked the Minister: “Will Mr Gray go into a little more detail on timescales for making decisions? Will he confirm whether any public money would go into hosting?”
Neil Gray replied: “The Commonwealth Games Federation has said that it intends to announce a decision about the favoured proposed host in May 2024. If, at that stage, Scotland is deemed to be the only viable option, steps will be taken to gather additional information and assurances to enable the Scottish Government to confirm its support—or otherwise—to proceed.
“The Commonwealth Games Scotland concept proposes a significantly reduced budget that is in the region of £135 million, with funding being drawn from £100 million of investment from the Commonwealth Games Federation and from commercial income, and not from the public purse.”
Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said:“The proposal to hold the 2026 Commonwealth games in Glasgow is great, and I encourage the Government to embrace it enthusiastically. However, I was disappointed that the scope of the proposal does not include an athletes village, which was one of the great legacies of the 2014 games.
“Perhaps there is an opportunity to focus state investment on expediting regeneration of derelict sites in Glasgow that are in the pipeline for development, such as Cowlairs or Red Road, as an athletes village. I encourage the cabinet secretary to engage with Wheatley Group and other social housing providers to look at the opportunity to bolster the proposal for hosting the Commonwealth games in Glasgow.”
Neil Gray replied: “There is quite a bit to consider, not least the timescales and public finance that are involved, as well as Glasgow’s legacy from 2014, which—I say as a spectator—was incredible. That was a phenomenal games, and Glasgow has an incredible reputation around the world as a host.
“The infrastructure that is in place puts Glasgow in a good position, but should Glasgow be the preferred location, there are considerations around timescales, the scale of the games and what we would be able to offer, which must align with the Commonwealth Games Federation’s consideration of the long-term situation for the games.”
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