On Wednesday 14th November the First Minister Alex Salmond gave the following statement to the Scottish Parliament about the way forward now Glasgow has won the right to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
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May I firstly take this opportunity to put on record in Parliament, my thanks to the Sri Lankan National Olympic Committee for hosting us last week – they did a wonderful job. And may I offer my commiserations to the Nigerian government and the team from Abuja. They made this a terrific contest, held in the best possible spirit, worthy of the Commonwealth Games.
Ultimately, though, Scotland was victorious. So it gives me enormous pleasure to offer formally my congratulations to everyone who worked so hard on Glasgow’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games.
As Chair of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland, it would be impossible to overstate the role that Louise Martin has played in securing these Games. Her detailed knowledge of the delegates from each of the other seventy Commonwealth Games Associations is breathtaking, and it allowed us to mount the most effective canvassing campaign I have ever seen.
Derek Casey, as Bid Director, is another who has worked tirelessly over the last couple of years. Allied to Louise’s knowledge of the delegates, Derek’s encyclopaedic knowledge of every element of the bid – all 240 pages of it – was a desired factor.
These were the figureheads of Glasgow’s bid, but it should not be forgotten that there were many many other unsung heroes – officials from Government and Glasgow City Council and athletes past and present. All of these people deserve our thanks.
Neither should it be forgotten that this was a bid that was supported right across this chamber. All political parties in the Scottish Parliament supported Glasgow’s bid. Indeed, the Deputy First Minister put on record her thanks to the former First Minister last week. I would underline those sentiments, and hold this up as an example of what Scotland can achieve when united in a common goal. What happened on Friday was a huge vote of confidence from the international community in Scotland, and its people.
I have already paid tribute to Louise Martin, Chair of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland. Let me also pay tribute to Stephen Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council, whose dedication to the task of securing these Games has been an inspiring example of civic leadership and initiative in Scotland.
Deputy Presiding Officer Friday was a great day for Scotland. Seventy other countries from around the world have placed their faith in us. As a result, we now have great responsibilities, and great opportunities.
Let me turn first to what will happen in the next 100 days to redeem our promises without delay.
Tomorrow, I shall meet with Steven Purcell, Louise Martin, and Derek Casey to start implementing our plan for the first 100 days following the announcement.
Within this first 100 days, we aim to have made the first major appointment – the Chair of the Organising Company, and to have set in motion the recruitment of other key personnel who will take the lead on delivering these Games.
Within the first 100 days, we will develop a rolling business plan for the first three years of the operation of the Organising Company.
And within the first 100 days, we will consult on our plans to secure a lasting legacy for all of Scotland from these Games.
Subject to Parliamentary timetables, we also hope to have the Glasgow Commonwealth Games Bill on the statute book before the summer recess.
As members will know this Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament within minutes of the announcement in Colombo and published on Monday.
It will ensure that Scotland delivers the Games which the members of the Commonwealth Games Federation voted for that day.
A Games protected from ambush marketing and ticket touting. A commercially attractive but not commercially cluttered Games that everyone in Scotland can access and enjoy.
It will ensure that that a Games Transport Plan is developed and implemented. And that athletes, officials and spectators can travel between venues efficiently and with minimum disruption to everyday life.
That the ownership of land needed for the Games has to be secured and projects delivered on time and on budget.
And that funding mechanisms are put in place to allow the Organising Company to make the Games a reality, while also protecting the public interest.
Finally, as the Bill is designed to deliver specifically for these Games, it provides for its repeal once Glasgow 2014 is complete.
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games Bill will be one of two formal mechanisms which allow us to deliver these Games.
The other will be the Organising Company. This body will be crucial to the delivery of the Games. The company itself – Glasgow 2014 Ltd –I am sorry we could not think of a more ingenious title, but it does sum up what it does. It has already been incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. It is owned by Scottish Ministers, Glasgow City Council and the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland. The tripartitie approach has been crucial in securing the bid. It will now be crucial in securing the Games.
The Organising Company will be charged with turning the 240 page bid document into reality. This is no simple task! So the Organising Company will be required to produce detailed business plans, setting out precisely what will be done, when and at what cost. These plans will be scrutinised in detail by the Glasgow 2014 Strategic Group, which I will chair. The Deputy First Minister will be a member of this Group, along with the leader of Glasgow City Council, the Chair of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland and the Chair of the Organising Company.
Scottish Ministers will report to Parliament regularly on the progress of preparations for the Games and parliamentary committees will play a key role in scrutinising the bill and the legacy plans for these games.
Let me turn to the budgeting aspect of the games. That level of scrutiny by the Parliament has an important role to play in ensuring the integrity of the budgets which have been developed for the Games. The net public cost of hosting the Games is £298 million in 2007 prices. 80% of this cost will be met by the Scottish Government, and 20% by Glasgow City Council.
As part of the bidding process, the budget – like all areas of the bid submission – was subject to a rigorous examination by the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Evaluation Commission. Their report expressed confidence in our overall budget figures.
Unlike other major Games, we are fortunate that over 70% of the venues that will be used for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – venues such as Hampden Park, Celtic Park, Ibrox, the SECC, Kelvinhall, and others already exist.
Around another 20% of venues were already committed before the decision on Friday, meaning that the Glasgow 2014 Games have a low element of high risk capital construction costs. However, great discipline will still be required to ensure that we deliver the Games on time and on budget.
So we can be confident that we will not see the sort of escalating costs that other projects have seen. Glasgow’s bid was a bid built on solid foundations. Bricks and mortar, not pie in the sky.
And that is one of the reasons that unlike other Games, we do not depend on lottery funds to pay for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. However, the lottery should and must be used to help the development of grassroots sports and we cannot allow a situation where this funding declines, just as the greatest opportunities in sport beckon.
In terms of the legacy, Deputy Presiding Officer, But let me make one thing very clear. Making the best use of venues already at your disposal does not mean minimising the potential legacy from the Games.
I said that Friday’s result gave us great responsibilities – it also gave us great opportunities. This Government is committed not only to ensuring that the Games in 2014 are the best sporting event that this country has ever seen, but also that the Games are used as a catalyst for regeneration, for social change, for economic development and to encourage a new generation to become Scotland’s sporting heroes of the future.
The most obvious legacy benefit from the Games will be the physical regeneration of a large part of the east end of Glasgow. The athletes’ village, National Indoor Sports Arena and Velodrome will all be constructed in Dalmarnock, in the heart of the Clyde Gateway, creating an ongoing infrastructure legacy for the area. After the Games, the village will be made available for a mix of social and private housing. So these Games offer the potential to transform one of our most deprived areas and provide superb new facilities and opportunities to local people.
But that sense of pride won’t stop in the east end of Glasgow. The reaction to the announcement on Friday across Scotland was quite incredible, and was the latest demonstration that as a country, we are once again gaining a sense of self confidence. That optimism and energy are returning to this nation.
Scotland has a long tradition of enterprise and of innovation. These Games should be held up as an example to our young people that they should not be afraid to try, that they should have confidence in their ability to achieve their goals – in whatever field they choose.
The days of Scotland so often being plucky losers are drawing to a close. Winning this bid is certainly an indication that in a much wider sense, Scotland is heading towards a better sporting future.
And the Games will offer new opportunities for individuals. Around 15,000 volunteers will be needed to help run the Games. All of the volunteers – no matter their background – will be able to develop new skills and gain new experiences and confidence.
Scotland will welcome many thousands of visitors for the Games in 2014. It is vitally important that we encourage them to see as much of the country as they can while they are here – to experience great Scottish hospitality, and to come back again and again.
It is also predicted that the games will lead to 1,200 new jobs in Scotland, of which 1000 will be in Glasgow.
But the most important legacy should be in the field of health and wellbeing. We now have an unrivalled opportunity to use the power of sport home to inspire people of all ages – but particularly our children – to lead active and healthy lives. It would not be an exaggeration to say that these Games have the potential to materially change the course of a whole generation of lives.
With more participating in physical activity and sport, it will also increase Scotland’s ability to produce world class athletes. We want to see Scottish athletes competing with the best in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and adding to Scotland’s impressive list of medal winners at past Games and, we hope, in Delhi in 2010.
Within 100 days, we will consult on our initial plan to secure these legacies from the Games. When we do so, I would once again ask the whole of Scotland to unite behind the Glasgow Games.
On Friday we got a glimpse of what can be achieved by working together, but that should be only the start. These Games are a ringing endorsement in this nation and its people from the entire Commonwealth. Scotland’s athletes – and no less, Scotland’s people – must use this achievement as an inspiration and be confident in their own potential, and in the unlimited potential of this nation.