Joy for Scots as Glasgow wins bid to host 2014 Commonwealth Games

GLASGOW struck gold yesterday as the city landed the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Scotland’s biggest city beat Nigerian capital Abuja by 47 votes to 24 at a summit in Sri Lanka.

The decision by the Commonwealth Games Federation delegates destroyed Nigeria’s hopes of becoming the first African country to host the event.

It will be the third time the Games have been held in Scotland — they were in Edinburgh in 1970 and 1986.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, in Colombo with the successful bid team, said: “We will make these Games the greatest sporting event our country has ever seen. This will be our chance to show the whole world the very best of Scotland.”

The result of the vote brought jubilation to the 75-strong Scottish contingent in Colombo, and to Glasgow where the news was broadcast on giant screens at big public events.

Glasgow’s success is expected to lead to huge investment in sporting and housing facilities in the city’s deprived east end.

The 2014 Games will be the latest in a series of major world sporting events to take place in Britain, after the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales and the 2012 London Olympics.

The Rugby Football Union have declared their intention to bid for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and the FA will bid to host the 2018 football World Cup.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “It’s looking like a great sporting decade for our country.”

Salmond said ordinary Scots had played a part in securing the Games by their enthusiasm for the bid, and pledged an “electrifying” event.

“They will be our chance to show the whole world the very best of Scotland, to inspire people to take up a sport or embrace a healthier lifestyle, and a chance for our athletes to compete for Scotland on Scottish soil,” he said.

“It’s all of us — the people of Scotland — who have helped to make our Games dream a reality.”

The Games are expected to cost Scotland about £300 million (€427m). The city’s bid was launched in August 2005. Along with Abuja, the Canadian city of Halifax threw its hat in the ring but pulled out this year after rising costs.

The costs of the Glasgow Games will be split 80-20 between the Scottish government and the city, and the Games will be held over 11 days with an opening ceremony on July 23, 2014 at Celtic Park. About 6,000 athletes and officials will stay in an athletes’ village in the east of the city.

The Games will bring a new national indoor sports arena and velodrome to the city.