Glasgow 2014 bid set for vital test

Published on Sunday 10 June 2007 00:12

GLASGOW'S bid to stage the 2014 Commonwealth Games goes under the microscope from today as the Evaluation Commission team begin their work. The five-member Commonwealth Games Federation delegation arrived in the city on Friday evening, travelling from Abuja, Nigeria, where they spent a week inspecting Glasgow's only remaining rival.

These evaluations are generally closed to the media, but one or two details about the trip to Abuja leaked out. Djamil Faye, a consultant for the bid, admitted to the Nigeria News Agency that the commission expressed concern about the location of the shooting venue. There was enough land to develop more appropriate facilities, he said, though this would provide an engineering challenge. "We have looked at the concerns they raised, and will do something," said Faye. "We can offer an alternative venue that will be within the 10km range we are striving to achieve."

Faye suggested that the ambition to locate the Games Village, designated hotels and venues within a 10km radius could be Abuja's trump card. "This has never been achieved in previous Games, even at the Olympics. This is a landmark offer that is hard to be resisted by any member country of the Commonwealth."

Such confidence, or bullishness, has characterised Abuja's bid in recent weeks. Since the withdrawal from contention of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the dynamics of the contest have changed, and there is no question it has given the Nigerians an enormous boost. To Abuja, the appeal of taking the Games to Africa for the first time seems irresistible and it is now believed that the two-horse race with Glasgow can be won.

Louise Martin, chair of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland and the driving force behind Glasgow's bid, is refusing to be distracted. She admitted that it was "50/50 now", but remains as confident about Glasgow's success as she was a year ago, when it was unquestionably the favourite. Since then, Glasgow's campaign had been improved, she said, so there was no reason for pessimism.

A shadow evaluation commission, chaired by Dick Palmer, was conducted a fortnight ago, and Martin revealed that it was a thoroughly useful exercise. "It taught us that we know our bid extremely well, and highlighted some areas of presentation. We are so pleased we did the shadow evaluation. It was nerve-racking, but it has given us confidence. The official evaluation will be nerve-racking as well, of course, but we know what we're doing, and we've made the little changes that needed to be made.

"I'm still confident. Africa has never had the Games; they feel it's their turn, and that's what they're going on. I fully agree with them that they deserve the Games, but not yet. I think that at this stage we have more to offer. Having read their bid document, I remain confident. Don't get me wrong, it's a strong bid, but... I am confident.

"My belief in Glasgow hasn't wavered: I know we have a very strong bid."

The next phase of the process was "showing our credentials," said Martin. She and bid director Derek Casey have roamed the Commonwealth for much of the past year, and now it is time for the Commonwealth to come to them. After the evaluation commission finish their work on Thursday, it will be the turn of the six regions of the Commonwealth to visit, beginning with Oceania next month.

There is no question that Abuja's confidence is proving an effective tactic - "They think they're ahead and that they'll win," Martin conceded - in the PR battle. To some observers there is the prospect of such confidence proving a self-fulfilling prophecy, but other factors could come into play.

There are concerns, for example, over New Delhi's preparations for the 2010 Games, and to take the following event to another untried area might be considered a gamble too far. Ultimately it will be a decision for the 72 members from the Commonwealth - and the work of the evaluation commission this week will be crucial in that process.