Difference between revisions of "Commonwealth Games 2014"
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| − | + | ==The Cost of the Games== | |
| − | <ref> | + | In March 2008, the cost of hosting the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was estimated at £373m, with the stadium alone estimated at £98m and the Scottish Parliament only meeting 80% of costs.<ref>Gerry Braiden, Finance experts sign up for 2014 Games: Ernst and Young recruited to keep project on budget, ''The Herald'', 17 March 2008, p.4.</ref> |
| + | While the city has staked a large part of its events-based tourism strategy on showpieces like the Commonwealth Games as part of regenerating Glasgow,<ref>[http://www.glasgowtourismstrategy.com Glasgow's Tourism Strategy to 2016]Co-published by [[Glasgow City Marketing Bureau]], Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland, 2007 (accessed 4 April 2008)</ref> the Games do not have a good track-record for generating revenue. According to reports, they led to 'financial meltdown in Edinburgh when it hosted the Games in 1986 [which] led to the city reporting a £ 3 million deficit on a £ 27 billion budget. South of the Border, the experience of Manchester is similarly worrying. The company behind the 2002 Games came within hours of insolvency until the Government rode to the rescue with an extra £ 105 million in public subsidies.'<ref>Gabriel Rozenberg, 'City's resurgence has been built on arts, leisure and tourism', ''The Times'', 10 November 2007, p.7.</ref> | ||
| + | ==Costly Junkets== | ||
| + | Since Glasgow won the bid, the campaign has been mired in controversy, largely due to the travel costs run up by members of its steering group including Bailie [[Liz Cameron]], Glasgow City Council Leader, [[Steven Purcell (Councillor)|Steven Purcell]], and Chief Executive of [[Culture and Sport Glasgow]], [[Bridget McConnell]]. | ||
| + | Following initial resistance to release figures under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act, Kevin Dunion ruled that Glasgow City Council must co-operate. This revealed that a £5 million fund had been set up by the Scottish Executive and Glasgow City Council to meet expenses incurred in winning the bid, with representatives of the Glasgow team visiting 68 countries in seven months, staying at top hotels as far afield as Asia and the Caribbean at a cost to taxpayers of £250,000. | ||
| + | The ceremony in Sri Lanka at which the winning bid was announced was attended by 46 Scots councillors, MSPs and their wives, costing £100,000.<ref>Paul Drury, 'Revealed, the secret costs of 2014 that they didn't want you to find out', ''Mail on Sunday'', 24 February 2008, p.33.</ref> | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Latest revision as of 13:42, 17 April 2008
The Cost of the Games
In March 2008, the cost of hosting the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was estimated at £373m, with the stadium alone estimated at £98m and the Scottish Parliament only meeting 80% of costs.[1]
While the city has staked a large part of its events-based tourism strategy on showpieces like the Commonwealth Games as part of regenerating Glasgow,[2] the Games do not have a good track-record for generating revenue. According to reports, they led to 'financial meltdown in Edinburgh when it hosted the Games in 1986 [which] led to the city reporting a £ 3 million deficit on a £ 27 billion budget. South of the Border, the experience of Manchester is similarly worrying. The company behind the 2002 Games came within hours of insolvency until the Government rode to the rescue with an extra £ 105 million in public subsidies.'[3]
Costly Junkets
Since Glasgow won the bid, the campaign has been mired in controversy, largely due to the travel costs run up by members of its steering group including Bailie Liz Cameron, Glasgow City Council Leader, Steven Purcell, and Chief Executive of Culture and Sport Glasgow, Bridget McConnell.
Following initial resistance to release figures under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act, Kevin Dunion ruled that Glasgow City Council must co-operate. This revealed that a £5 million fund had been set up by the Scottish Executive and Glasgow City Council to meet expenses incurred in winning the bid, with representatives of the Glasgow team visiting 68 countries in seven months, staying at top hotels as far afield as Asia and the Caribbean at a cost to taxpayers of £250,000. The ceremony in Sri Lanka at which the winning bid was announced was attended by 46 Scots councillors, MSPs and their wives, costing £100,000.[4]
Notes
- ↑ Gerry Braiden, Finance experts sign up for 2014 Games: Ernst and Young recruited to keep project on budget, The Herald, 17 March 2008, p.4.
- ↑ Glasgow's Tourism Strategy to 2016Co-published by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland, 2007 (accessed 4 April 2008)
- ↑ Gabriel Rozenberg, 'City's resurgence has been built on arts, leisure and tourism', The Times, 10 November 2007, p.7.
- ↑ Paul Drury, 'Revealed, the secret costs of 2014 that they didn't want you to find out', Mail on Sunday, 24 February 2008, p.33.
