On time and on budget with 1,000 Days To Go until Glasgow 2014
Chief Executive pleased with progress to date on the pathway to the Games
With just 1,000 Days To Go until the Opening Ceremony for Glasgow 2014, the latest Games Partners' Progress Report confirms this major sporting event is "on track and on budget".
The report illustrates that good progress is being made across all areas and that with a little under Three Years Go, Scotland is already reaping the economic and social benefits of hosting the Games.
This report follows the recent visit by the Commonwealth Games Federation's Coordination Commission which was satisfied with the strong partnership approach taken by the Organising Committee and Games Partners that is delivering across all elements of the Games. The Commission also believed there was a "clear focus on generating value and legacy for the people of Glasgow and Scotland".
Scotland's economy has already gained from the Games, with almost 80% of current contracts being awarded to Scottish companies across a wide range of industries. Companies from all over Scotland are currently engaged with Glasgow 2014, delivering products and services essential to making the Games a success.
However, while Glasgow 2014 is pleased with the progress that has been made to date, there is an eagerness to maintain the momentum on the pathway towards delivering an outstanding Games.
The report - which is available from Thursday in full on http://www.glasgow2014.com/games_gallery/documents_library/most_recent.aspx - includes detail on the following progress:
Venues and infrastructure: Work has been progressing at key venues and locations including the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village, where work on accommodation and facilities for 6,500 athletes and officials got underway in June; the National Indoor Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, which is now 63% complete and where work has begun on the terraced seating; Tollcross International Swimming Centre, which saw construction work get underway in June; the Scottish National Arena is taking shape; and Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre which, since August, has five new international standard lawns - the first of the venue development projects to be completed. Two major transport infrastructure projects - M74 extension and M80 upgrade - have been completed, improving access for spectators.
Commercial and Economy: Glasgow 2014 has appointed the BBC as Domestic Broadcast Rights Holder and signed three sponsorship agreements with Harper Macleod, Search Consultancy and Ernst & Young. The economy is also benefitting, with 105 of the 134 current contracts having been awarded to Scottish companies.
Community: Thousands of budding sportspeople at the Merchant City Festival accepted the "Three Years To Go" sporting challenge offered by Glasgow 2014. This saw them participate in events inspired by the 17 sports of Glasgow 2014. This was Glasgow's event in the Games for Scotland programme – a host of events that got underway on 23rd July, marking three years to go, and will end on 27th October, marking 1,000 Days To Go. In addition to this, Glasgow 2014 attended the West End Festival and the Lord Provost's parade, as well as the Riding of the Scottish Parliament.
Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive David Grevemberg said:
"This report highlights the commitment by all at Glasgow 2014 and our Games Partners to deliver - on time and on budget - an outstanding and memorable Games for Glasgow and Scotland.
"Whilst we are confident with the work and planning done so far, no one at Glasgow 2014 is complacent about the task ahead as we enter the important detailed planning phase which will allow us to host a sporting event that will showcase Scotland at its very best on a global stage."
Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said:
“Glasgow 2014 is fast approaching and the venues and infrastructure are taking shape. With 1,000 days to go I’m pleased this latest progress report shows the Games remain on time, on budget and will provide a showcase for Scotland at its best.
“Now, more than ever, the Scottish Government is determined that the Games will provide a lasting legacy that is relevant to all Scots. Already across Scotland people are getting involved and feeling the excitement that the Games will bring but today we have launched our Games Legacy website, a one-stop shop for the public to access information on the range of legacy activity happening in their local community.”
Glasgow City Council Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games, Archie Graham said:
“1,000 Days To Go marks another phase in the countdown to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. It is also a reminder of how quickly time has passed since we were awarded the Games. In that period, we have made tremendous progress in preparing venues and infrastructure that will allow us to host a fantastic event. Much work remains to be done, but we are confident that the Games will be a great success and will leave a fantastic legacy for Glasgow and Scotland.”
Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, Michael Cavanagh said:
“We are heartened by the strong progress made in planning to deliver a truly memorable Games. A key part of any successful Games is a successful home team performance and we are pleased to report that Team Scotland is well advanced in our planning to deliver on our potential in Glasgow and beyond”
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said:
“The Commonwealth Games Federation’s Coordination Commission findings are a ringing endorsement for the Organising Committee as it continues to deliver what promises to be a spectacular Commonwealth Games. With just 1,000 Days To Go, the Games really are a prospect which everyone can look forward to. It’s great to see that good progress is being made by the Organising Committee and we look forward to working with Glasgow 2014 to ensure that communities across Scotland have the opportunity to get involved in what promises to be a fantastic event for Glasgow, Scotland and the Commonwealth.”
Competition launched to design Glasgow 2014’s official mascot
UK-wide children’s competition launched with the BBC to mark 1,000 Days To Go until the Games
Glasgow 2014 has joined forces with the BBC to launch a children’s competition to design the official Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games mascot with exactly 1,000 days to go until the Opening Ceremony.
The competition will be launched in Scotland on BBC Radio Scotland's MacAulay & Co show with Fred MacAulay at 1030am. The competition will feature in content right across the BBC on television, radio and online through the Nations. There will also be coverage on BBC Sport and Blue Peter throughout the five-week competition.
The winner of the competition will be given four tickets to the Opening Ceremony.
Mascots are a major part of the Games experience, embodying the values of the Commonwealth Games and character of the host country, and playing a lead role in engaging and inspiring young people.
The Mascot will be a significant personality in the run-up to and during the Games, used by Glasgow 2014 to welcome visitors and spectators, visit schools and community events and appear on signage.
Glasgow 2014 is looking for a mascot that is:
• Original;
• A made up or imaginary character, animal or person;
• Easy to recognise as the official mascot for Scotland and the Commonwealth Games;
• Is appealing to young people;
• Friendly; and
• Incorporates red, yellow, green or blue – or all of these colours.
The entries will be judged in three age categories (6-8, 9-11 and 12-15) and children from all over the UK are being encouraged to enter the competition.
Ten of the best entries from each age category will be selected in the first round of judging. These will then be shortlisted and judged a second time before a final winner is chosen.
Those shortlisted will be contacted by the BBC. The winner will be announced after the London 2012 Paralympics in September 2012, where the winning mascot will be unveiled.
The judging panel will be made up of BBC and Glasgow 2014 staff and external experts.
Entries must be sent in on an A4 piece of paper and must be drawn or painted. For full details of the competition, including how to enter, please visit: www.bbc.co.uk/glasgow2014 .
Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive David Grevemberg said:
“This is a great opportunity for someone to become part of Commonwealth Games history by designing our mascot, which will welcome spectators and athletes from all over the world to the Games.
“Designed by young people, for young people, the mascot will be very important to the Games and to Scotland. We believe that one very special person will put pen or paintbrush to paper and come up with something totally original for us to have as our friendly face of the Games.”
Ken MacQuarrie, Director of BBC Scotland, said:
“BBC Scotland is delighted to be involved with the search for a mascot for Glasgow 2014. This is an exciting opportunity for young people across the UK to get involved with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and contribute a lasting legacy.
“It is fantastic that MacAulay and Co on BBC Radio Scotland will be launching the competition and we look forward to seeing the finished result next year."
Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said:
“We’ve seen the role the mascots can play with young people. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville have been visiting schools across the UK inspiring young people to choose sport.”
Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison MSP said:
“The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be a truly Scottish occasion and I am delighted that young people across the country are being encouraged to get involved through the mascot competition.
“There are 1,000 days to go to the Opening Ceremony of what will be an outstanding Games and giving our young people the opportunity to impact on how the event is marketed across country, the Commonwealth and the world is the perfect way in which to mark such an important milestone.
“The Games will show the world what vibrant and welcoming places both Glasgow and Scotland are and now more than ever it’s important that we involve people and communities from across Scotland in the excitement of the Games. I would encourage all young people to get involved with this competition and play their part as we get ever closer to the opening ceremony in 2014.”
Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said:
“The creation of a mascot for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games presents another chance for young people to become involved in and inspired by our preparations for this unique event in their lives.
”Those involved in the process will see their winning entry to the competition become a symbol of the Games, recognisable to many millions of people. I look forward to seeing what our young people come up with.”
Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said:
“The mascot competition is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get involved and use their creative talents to develop a special symbol for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
“The mascot is an integral part of the marketing campaigns for the Games and must embody values of the Games as well as bringing a bit of fun and colour to the proceedings. For the athletes, the mascot is a symbol of their participation in the Games, of the friendships made and the medals won.”
Note to Editors
1. Glasgow 2014 appointed the BBC as the Domestic Broadcast Rights Holder for the XX Commonwealth Games in June 2011.
2. The BBC investment in Glasgow 2014 reflects the importance of the Games to the Home nations and offers the Organising Committee an unparalleled platform for the promotion of the Games to the widest possible UK audience.
3. The BBC Network offers coverage of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games through the BBC One and BBC Two television networks, news coverage across the BBC Radio and TV networks (including Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra), red button interactive and/or IPTV services, the BBC Sport website and international promotion of the Games through BBC World News and the BBC World Service.
4. The BBC’s network television channels are watched by 85% of the population each week, whilst 66% listen to the BBC’s national radio stations.
5. Running in parallel with the young people’s design competition, Glasgow 2014 has also started the global search for a marketing agency to develop the winning design in to a finished product. The agency will work with the winning design to create a number of Mascot films, poses and designs that will be used throughout the city and across marketing materials for the Games.
6. For media queries on Glasgow 2014 please contact Glasgow 2014 PR Manager Holly Wheeler on 0141 287 3457 or holly.wheeler@glasgow2014.com
7. For media queries for the BBC, please contact Karen Higgins on 0141 422 6379 or Karen.Higgins1@bbc.co.uk .
Kate Randall
Director of Games Family Relations and Protocol
May 6 - Mark Stockwell has been sacked as the chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 Organising Committee despite being the driving force behind the city's successful bid for the Commonwealth Games.
There are widespread suspicions that Stockwell has been sacked because he was appointed by Labour's former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh (pictured in red with Stockwell), who has now been replaced by Campbell Newman.
December 21 - The Liberal National Party (LNP), the Opposition Party in Queensland, have called on Queensland Premier Anna Bligh's (pictured) to come clean about the cost of hosting the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games following a leaked report that suggests they have a $7 million (£4.5 million/€5.3 million) black hole.
Gold Coast 2018 chairman Mark Stockwell has also claimed that the Commonwealth Games will be delivered on time and on budget as promised in the bid.
November 28 - Glasgow 2014 has hit the landmark 100th member of staff with the appointment of former top swimmer Todd Cooper as the Sport Competition Cluster Manager for the Commonwealth Games.
November 24 – The Gold Coast are set to stage their first major sporting competition since winning the right to stage the 2018 Commonwealth Games earlier this month with the HSBC Sevens World Series set to get underway in the city.
November 17 - Hambantota has blamed the chaos of last year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the intervention of Canada for its failure to win its bid to host the 2018 edition of the event, as the campaign's leaders Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Mahindananda Aluthgamage both complained that they suffered from a bias against smaller countries hosting the event.
MEDIA RELEASE
November 5 - Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has admitted that the vote next week to decide whether the Gold Coast or Hambantota hosts the 2018 Commonwealth Games is on a knife-edge.
October 31 - Hambantota has a compelling argument to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the leader of its only rival, the Gold Coast, has admitted. 
October 30 - Hambantota's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games has received a boost after leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth confirmed Sri Lanka will host its next summit in 2013 despite the country being accused of committing atrocities during the civil war.
After the close of the Perth summit, Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris (pictured) tried to combat the publicity about the human rights allegations.
October 20 - Mike Hooper, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), said his organisation will not speculate on the issue regarding threats to expel Sri Lanka's membership of the Commonwealth despite the fact that Sri Lankan city Hambantota is bidding against the Gold Coast in Australia to the 2018 Games.
Sri Lankan Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage (pictured above right with Hooper) told insidethegames that it was "a completely false documentary" that would have "no bearing on the Hambantota 2018 bid for the Commonwealth Games at all."