Triumphant games bid team returns home

Published on Monday 12 November 2007 14:59

GLASGOW'S victorious 2014 Commonwealth Games bid team today returned from Sri Lanka and declared “mission accomplished”.

First Minister Alex Salmond and key members of the team, were piped through the arrivals area after touching down at Glasgow Airport.

At a press conference minutes later, Mr Salmond paid tribute to the “fantastic” work of the team in helping Glasgow beat the Nigerian city of Abuja to secure the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Mr Salmond said: “I have fought a range of campaigns over the years, and canvassing campaigns.

“I have never seen a better conducted canvassing operation than the one Scotland conducted over the last week.”

He went on: “It’s been a fantastic week for Scotland.

“It is mission accomplished thus far – but of course there is a great amount still to be done.”

Mr Salmond will make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.

The following day, the Games strategic committee will meet to map out the next steps, and Glasgow Council leader Steven Purcell will report to his local authority.

Mr Salmond said a “cracking pace” would be needed to live up to the pledge of mounting the best ever Commonwealth Games in seven years’ time.

As soon as the result was known on Friday, the parliamentary Bill for the Games was published.

“That very familiar badge has disappeared from all our lapels,” said Mr Salmond, referring to the campaign to secure the bid.

“We have won the Games and the right to hold the Games.”

He pledged that the tripartite relationship would continue.

“The only way to run a successful major international games like the Commonwealth Games is to have cooperation between the host city, the government responsible, and the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland,” said the First Minister.

“We are lucky that cooperation exists and will continue to exist right through to 2014.”

Mr Salmond was flanked at the Glasgow Airport press conference by sports minister Stuart Maxwell, Glasgow Lord Provost Bob Winter, Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland chairman Louise Martin, Steve Purcell, and athletes who played a part in Scotland’s efforts in Colombo.

The task of ensuring the infrastructure was in place would be helped by the fact that more than 70% of the facilities needed were already in position, he said.

And completing that task would help organisers concentrate on the “inspirational” effect that the Games could have for a generation of Scottish youngsters.

“Seven years may seem like a long time, but if we are going to get the maximum value, and make sure it has a profound and lasting impact on the future of Scotland, then the sooner we get to the organisational stage the better.”

But the First Minister said what stuck most in his mind from the events of last week was how Scotland was seen in the world.

“We were engaged in an election against what I thought was a powerful and strong bid from Nigeria,” said Mr Salmond.

“The decision of our peers across the Commonwealth was to entrust the Commonwealth Games, one of the most prestigious sporting events on the face of the planet to Glasgow and to Scotland.”

Part of the reason for the victory was the way Scotland was looked on by other countries, he said.

Mr Salmond continued: “I hope that out of that, that school children in particular will remember that broadcast and that decision, and that a substantial section of the rest of humankind holds Scotland in the highest regard.

“That, in terms of self-confidence for our country is of huge significance.”