AN EVALUATION OF THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2014 LEGACY: PRE-GAMES REPORT

1. Introduction and Background

Introduction

1.1 Glasgow will host the XXth Commonwealth Games from 23 July to 3 August 2014. It will be the biggest multi-sport event that Scotland has hosted in a generation. Approximately 6,500 athletes and team officials from 71 nations and territories will take part in 17 sports. Five sports will run 22 Para-Sport medal events, the highest number of events to date at a Commonwealth Games.

1.2 Scotland is also hosting The Ryder Cup in Gleneagles in September 2014 for a second time in the tournament's history. Further, Homecoming^[1] is a full year of celebration across Scotland, coinciding with the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

1.3 Glasgow won the bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2007. A partnership of the Scottish Government (SG), Glasgow City Council (GCC), Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) and the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee (Glasgow 2014) continues to underpin the planning and delivery of the Games.

1.4 Glasgow 2014 and Partners is on track to deliver the Games at a cost of £485 million, with an additional security budget of £90 million. The SG is to provide up to £382 million, GCC around £80 million, and Glasgow 2014 is meeting the balance through income from sponsorship, ticket sales, merchandising and broadcasting rights. Commercial sponsorship has progressed well and charitable partners are in place.

1.5 Over 2.3 million applications were received for approximately one million tickets during the first Glasgow 2014 application window, with many sports selling out in the first phase. At the time of writing, 94% of publicly available tickets are sold. Two-thirds of tickets are priced £25 or under.

1.6 Glasgow 2014 has recruited around 15,000 volunteers - known as clyde-siders - to support the Games. Up to 50,000 applications were received for the roles from all over the UK and beyond.

Legacy

1.7 Since the bidding phase there has also been an emphasis on the positive and lasting benefits that could be achieved for both Scotland and Glasgow. These benefits are often collectively described as the 'legacy'.

1.8 In 2009, the Scottish Government and national partners developed a Scotland-wide Games legacy plan setting out their collective ambitions for achieving a lasting legacy for Scotland. This covers a ten-year period to 2019 and is set around four national themes: Flourishing, Active, Connected and Sustainable.

Flourishing - using the Games to contribute to the growth of the Scottish economy.

Active - using the Games to help Scots be more physically active.

Connected - using the Games to strengthen connections at home and internationally through culture and learning.

Sustainable - using the Games to demonstrate environmental responsibility and help communities live more sustainably.

1.9 The overarching aim is to leverage the maximum possible social and economic benefit from the Games investment to help achieve those outcomes. The Scottish Government and partners have developed an 'outcomes map' for the Games. This sets out the outcomes and intermediate outcomes that partners hope to achieve through the Games.

1.10 This is underpinned by over 50 national legacy programmes led by Games Partners and other national and local organisations. The outcomes map and information on the national legacy programmes are at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/AssessingLegacy2014. Some summary information on the national legacy programmes is presented in this report.

1.11 The legacy programmes include both the scaling up and/or expansion of existing policies and programmes, alongside some new programmes specifically developed and launched for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Some policy areas in Scotland have used the Games as a 'catalyst', or 'mobiliser' for policy aims that were being pursued.

1.12 The City of Glasgow has also identified 6 legacy themes which broadly fit with the four national themes above. These are; Prosperous, Active, Inclusive, Accessible, Green and International. More detailed information on Glasgow's legacy plans is available at: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/AboutGlasgow/AGamesLegacyForGlasgow.

1.13 From the outset there has also been an explicit aim to ensure Games legacy has a national reach. Local authorities across Scotland are also planning for the Games and legacy. In late 2012, through the SOLACE^[2] Scotland network, each local authority identified a senior officer within the authority to lead on all aspects of legacy activity for 2014. A national officer network has been established, administered by SOLACE with support from SG bringing together each of the 2014 Local Authority Legacy Lead Officers from all of the 32 local authorities.

1.14 Finally, Glasgow 2014 has a Legacy Team embedded in its structure. This is the first time this has happened for a Commonwealth Games. Their role has been to foster a 'legacy consciousness' in the organisation and to work with partners to take forward legacy objectives.

Key developments

1.15 GCC, with the support of SG and partner agencies, delivered the Games venues and supporting infrastructure in Glasgow. Approximately 70% of venues were already in place at the time of the bid and they have now been joined by several new world-class facilities. Details of venues are at: http://www.glasgow2014.com/games/venues

1.16 The Co-ordination Commission (CoCom) of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)^[3] recently stated that progress on venues was impressive, giving them 'significant confidence' in the ability of Glasgow to deliver a successful Games.

1.17 Improvements have also been made to the transport infrastructure in the Glasgow area. There were already plans for many of these improvements, but the securing of the Games helped ensure their completion at high specification and pace. It is hoped that Games-related transport projects will reduce journey times and provide sustainable public transport in advance of the Games, for Games-time and in the future.

1.18 The physical landscape in parts of Glasgow is changing with the building and refurbishment work to support the Games. Notably, there has been new investment for the Games in Glasgow's East End, in some of the most deprived communities in Scotland. The Games investment has become integral to plans for a wider, long-term regeneration initiative being led by the Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company (URC).

1.19 In addition to new sporting venues, the Athletes' Village is complete and will be adapted to provide 700 homes (300 for private sale and 400 homes for social rent) and a 120 bed Social Work care home for the elderly. The village has been built using the highest environmental standards. Construction of the community-owned Dalmarnock Legacy Hub, a new social recreational and educational centre, has commenced next to the Emirates Arena, and the upgraded Dalmarnock station has officially re-opened.

1.20 There has been increasing emphasis on cultural programming for major sporting events internationally in recent years, and indeed it is a requirement of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme is underway and comprises two elements: a Scotland wide programme called Culture 2014 and a Games-time celebration in Glasgow called Festival 2014. More information can be found at: http://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/glasgow-commonwealth-games-2014/culture-2014-and-festival-2014

1.21 Finally, at the time of writing, the Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) is underway, journeying across the 71 nations and territories with coverage on the BBC^[4]. The QBR is providing an opportunity to showcase Glasgow and Scotland through business, culture and Ministerial events. The QBR will arrive back in Scotland on 14 June 2014.