Commonwealth Games would bring city homes

Published on 21/12/2005 01:23

ONE of two areas in Glasgow could receive a major boost if the city wins its bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Sighthill and Dalmarnock are the contenders for the site of the athletes' village during the games.

The Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland will join rivals Canada and Nigeria in Melbourne in March to make the first presentations to the world assembly, starting an 18-month campaign to persuade the commonwealth nations of their suitability to become the 2014 host.

The Scottish council has been working overtime in recent weeks with the Scottish Executive, Glasgow city council, Sportscotland and local authorities to ensure the bid document is convincing.

Part of those plans include a new athletes village. Louise Martin, the chairwoman of the Scottish council told The Scotsman: "We have now identified two clear sites - Sighthill and Dalmarnock - and will choose one of those for the athletes' village.

"They were already earmarked for housing, and our plans would be to build a whole new village on these sites which would house the athletes, but whose houses would then be offered for sale.

It would create fantastic regeneration for an area of Glasgow on the back of the Games, and would also provide quite prestigious housing - Melbourne are doing something similar next year and already they've had people signing up to buy the 'Games' houses and some looking to see which athlete stays where."

"We need to really sell Glasgow and Scotland as the perfect host - a small, but friendly nation which would benefit the Games' reputation."