Michael Kelly: Ignore the cynics: Glasgow is ready for Games

THERE is always tension before a big match. Even although the Commonwealth Games are not due until 2014, the pressure is starting to build on those wearing Glasgow's colours.

Last week, the first signs of problems began to appear – like the highly publicised increase in the budget by 70m. But, that was not an increase in real terms at all, merely an adjustment for inflation. Further, new council leader Gordon Matheson yesterday spelt out that extra funding will not be automatically released to meet inflation. The Games organisation will have to look first to efficiencies within its own budget to save at least some of the additional 70m.

But that is not all. Cost overrun on the basic budget of 453m is a bigger fear. The new Wembley, at 798m, exceeded its budget by almost ten times and it still hasn't got a decent pitch. While Glasgow has the advantage of being able to use existing facilities for most of the venues there are still three large ones – the National Arena, the velodrome and the indoor sports centre to be completed – and fear of overspend will loom over Glasgow until the doors open.

The fraught economic situation and guaranteed public expenditure cuts create further degrees of uncertainty both over public sector funding and the essential participation of private enterprise.

Already there has been a hiccup with the funding of the National Arena. It was to be partly financed by 40m raised from the sale of a car park for housing development. But falling demand for housing saw the Elphinstone Group pull out of deal. Now the council is stepping in to loan money allowing contracts to be placed on time. While the loan is secured against land, it is a further commitment by the council.

Unless the world and the UK pull out of recession much faster than is forecast, funding problems are in danger of recurring. And with this is the danger of the council having to commit even more additional funds. As far as the public sector is concerned the council is satisfied that the agreement it has with the Scottish Government will hold and that there will be no attempt to enforce cuts from the national contribution. However there four years still to run with a coalition in Westminster and an election for Holyrood in under 12 months' time nothing can be taken for granted.

Except, of course, that the Games have to take place in July 2014. On the one hand, this imperative puts pressure on the public funders to deliver. But it also means that they have to catch any balls dropped by the private sector.

Private firms do go bust for all sorts of reasons. As the timetable to the Games rolls on the balance of bargaining, power swings in the contractor's direction. Construction is notoriously difficult to cost and many firms might try and land any unexpected burdens at the council's doorstep.

I am assured that the council is confident that its procurement procedures minimise its exposure. Suppliers will be scrutinised and monitored over the period of their contracts to confirm solvency and other competencies. Contracts have been designed to reduce the risk to the council which has "step-in" rights to replace contractors that don't perform.

Most importantly is that all projects are planned to be completed by early 2013. This 18 months' period of grace before the first starting pistol is fired should ensure there are no joiners hammering away in the background as the opening ceremony takes place.

Legacy is a much more nebulous area. It has become an essential part of the brief any city is required to address if it wishes to tender for any major international games. Many just pay lip-service to it in the knowledge that no sanctions can be taken against them if they fail to deliver.

Glasgow is taking legacy seriously – especially the health and fitness goals. There was an apparent setback to these aspirations when medical research, citing the lack of evidence connecting elite sporting events with general improvements in the health of the host population, was misinterpreted to suggest that no such connection existed. A link can be created if sufficient effort is put into it.

Glasgow claims it is working to ensure that the message of sporty good health does percolate down. It claims a history of making the most of opportunities like the Garden Festival and the European City of Culture – much more than any city before or since.

Cynics might wonder if any public drive can ever wean Glasgow off its diet of fish suppers, fags and booze. Poor, deprived people seem impervious to exhortation. Shouldering personal responsibility is too much for them. The cure is to eliminate the poverty and the deprivation, thus transforming Drumchapel layabouts into Bearsden gymaholics. But you'll not get that for the cost of the Commonwealth Games.

Despite the official view, the health legacy is not going to make or break the Games for Glasgow. The city took on these Games as part of its struggle up the international league table of destination cities. It had to compete for this event. It's what grown-up cities do. The enduring legacy of a successful Games will be meeting that goal.

A bungled Games would be a body blow to Glasgow's reputation. Having looked at evidence and spoken to key people, it seems to me that the city has done what it can to avoid black holes and minimised the chance of being mugged by the unexpected.

Last night a memorandum of understanding was signed with London to share information and experience. As the London Olympics are due two years ahead of Glasgow's big test the city should be ahead on that deal. It has to continue to plot its way carefully. There are plenty of spectators already in the stands ready to criticise failure as pressure continues to mount – as it always does before kick-off.