Commonwealth Games - Glasgow 2014

The Commonwealth Games are coming to Scotland! In 2014 Glasgow will host the Commonwealth Games. Keep up to date with what's happening and find out how you can get involved by continuing to check these pages!

History

The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sports event open to the countries that comprise the Commonwealth. There are 2 billion people living within the Commonwealth - about 30% of the world’s population. The games were originally known as the British Empire Games though the name has changed several times since then.

Have a look at this timeline of the games:

• The first Games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada. 11 countries sent a total of 400 athletes who competed in 6 sports and 59 events
  Four years later the Games were held in London for the first time. 500 athletes from 16 countries contested 68 in 6 sports
• There were no Games in 1942 or 1946 because of World War II
  In 1954 the name was changed to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games
• In 1970 the Games came to Scotland for the first time. Edinburgh was the host city and the name was changed again to the British Commonwealth Games. 42 countries participated with a total of 1383 athletes competing in 121 across 9 sports
• In 1978 when the Games were held in Edmonton Canada the name was changed to the one that’s still used today – the Commonwealth Games
• The Games was again hosted in Edinburgh in 1986
• At the 2006 Melbourne Games 4049 athletes from 71 countries competed in 17 sports across 245 events
• The next Games will be held in Delhi in 2010. Athletes will be competing from 71 countries in 17 sports
• After that it’s Glasgow in 2014!

Glasgow 2014

In 2007 the decision was taken to award the 2014 Games to Glasgow – meaning that between 23rd July and 3rd August 2014 a host of world class athletes will be coming to Scotland to compete. In addition to the athletes, fans from all over the world will visit Scotland – they won’t only be watching the Games though, they’ll stay here and finding out firsthand what Scotland has to offer. This is obviously great news not only for people in Glasgow but for everyone in Scotland.

As Scotland is the host nation everyone is hoping our athletes will do us proud and achieve a record number of medals though the Scottish Government also want to use the games as an opportunity to improve the fitness and health of the general population. To help achieve this ambition the Government is using the Games as an opportunity to build and improve facilities throughout the city so that when the Games have finished everyone will be able to benefit from them.

Some of the new facilities will be:

• a new National Indoor Sports Arena village where the athletes will stay
• a new indoor velodrome – the first of its kind in Scotland
• a mountain bike centre
• 12,500-seater entertainments arena on the site of the existing Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre for gymnastics and netball
• an international hockey complex at Glasgow Green

The Legacy of 2014

In February 2008, Young Scot was commissioned by the Scottish Government to seek the views of young people from across Scotland on the potential legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. You can read the final legacy report that was produced by Young Scot. We’ll be continuing to do work with the Scottish Government so keep checking these pages to keep informed of ways to get involved with the Commonwealth Games.

You can also find out what impact the Scottish Government hopes the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will have by checking out the legacy information on their website. The Scottish Government want the Games to be exciting and accessible to Young Scot's - find out how you can get involved by continuously checking both websites!

Last modified: 07/09/2009 16:19:19