A major Operational Review into the Bid for Glasgow to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014 has been released. This report is the first of its kind to be published by a Commonwealth Games Host City.
The publication covers all aspects of the Bidding Phase - some 42 months of intensive research, planning and delivery - and shares crucial expertise and insights into how the Games were won for Glasgow and Scotland.
Read the Operational Review online (this is a large file and may take a moment to load).
Key findings from the Operational Review include:
• That the decision to bid was made partly because “since devolution there has been an increased confidence in Scotland’s ability to bid for and deliver major events.”
• The partnership of the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland (CGCS) was a major advantage. This, plus mass public support, made for “an extraordinary team approach.” There was also “a conscious decision by the Bid Team to use local experts … rather than buying in significant amounts of consultancy advice.” This ensured that the technical bid was part of and not distant from other plans in the city and country.
• Advice from the 20 members of the Athletes Commission “had a significant impact on Glasgow’s final proposals” and “ensured all aspects of Glasgow’s bid were athlete focussed” from food to venues, technology to ceremonies.
• Travelling to almost 70 countries and nations to present our Bid between June 2006 and May 2007 was another key opportunity to gain advice from Commonwealth Games Associations as our plans were formed.
• The total budget for the Bid was £6.2million, with the public sector contributing £5.38 million and Major Supporters from the commercial sector contributing £830,000.
• At the final announcement on November 9, 2007, we attracted a decisive share of the 71 votes on offer - 47 to 24 – confirming our strategy had worked.
Derek Casey, Interim Chief Executive for Glasgow 2014 said: “The Operational Review highlights three key elements of the Bid. Firstly the determination we had to have a technically strong bid, which was carefully planned and carefully executed down to the smallest detail. Secondly to ensure that there was a mass of support behind the Bid at all stages, and I think we achieved this with a transparent approach to what we were setting out to do. And thirdly the importance of taking the message to the voters paid off, and we were so pleased on the 9th of November that that was the case.”
The partners in Glasgow 2014 – the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, and the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland (CGCS) – have all welcomed report, including the Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell.
He said: “The Scottish Government is extremely pleased to have been fully involved in Glasgow’s successful bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games and we will continue working with our partners to make sure we create the greatest sporting event Scotland has ever witnessed and a legacy of which the nation can be proud.
“Scotland’s bid was a fantastic example of what our country can achieve when we work together – it’s no exaggeration to say that the whole country got behind it and the unprecedented level of support played a big part in our win.
“The Games bid provides us with a wealth of experience and in particular demonstrates the importance of creating strong links among all partners right from the start. This knowledge will be essential as we move forward and points the way to how we can successfully bid for major events in the future.”
Councillor Archie Graham, Commonwealth Games spokesperson for Glasgow City Council. "This document will be invaluable for any city which hopes to bid for the Commonwealth Games in the future. It sets out the vast amount of work which went into winning the Glasgow bid in Sri Lanka on November 9 last year. Glasgow City Council is now focused on playing its part in delivering the Games in 2014 for the people of Glasgow and Scotland."
Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of the CGCS added: “This is an important document for others wishing to bring major events to Scotland. The lessons from the review about the early development of strong partnerships involving sport, the host city and Government, and only submitting bids that are technically sound and winnable, are clear.
“What is also clear is that the Games Council's desire to have athletes and sport at the heart of the Bid, from our earliest discussions with partners, was a vital part of the winning bid to bring the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow. I pay tribute to my predecessor as CGCS Chair, Louise Martin, for leading this process on behalf of the CGCS, and to the other partners for recognising the value of this sport centred approach throughout the bid process.”
Professor Fred Coalter, an expert in sport policy and the social impact of sport at the University of Stirling, said that the bidding process had been "exceptional. The strength of this bid was that the breadth and depth of technical expertise was matched with astute political lobbying, and the development of strong political relationships throughout the Commonwealth. The achievement of such high standards in both aspects of the bid is outstanding in what is a highly competitive, international bidding environment.
“And Scotland got value for money from the bidding process. In terms of the travelling undertaken by the senior officials it is very important to remember that they were part of a wider task of putting Glasgow on the Commonwealth map, of reaffirming the city's place in the Commonwealth and of course affirming that sense of ownership of the Games felt by the various voters. To put it bluntly, if they'd stayed at home Glasgow wouldn't have won it."
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jenifer Johnston, jenifer.johnston@glasgow.gov.uk, 0141 287 9819