The boss of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has backed the event’s return to the city despite worries over money and a lack of razzmatazz.
David Grevemberg admitted the road to Glasgow 2026 had been ‘challenging’, with other would-be hosts dropping out, and ‘complex economic realities’ to handle.
But he insisted even the cut-down sporting festival now being planned was an ‘immense’ chance to enhance Glasgow’s reputation and cement the legacy of 2014.
Writing in the Mail, Mr Grevemberg said: ‘In these challenges lies an opportunity for Glasgow to shine once again as a beacon of hope, resilience, and innovation.
‘It’s a chance to show how these events can be reimagined… to catalyse positive change.’
‘A scaled-down version of the Commonwealth Games for the 2026 edition should not be seen as a compromise but as a testing ground for a more sustainable model.
‘This approach allows the Commonwealth to focus on the core values that make the Games unique: recognising our shared history and cultural connections, celebrating athletic achievement, and promoting inclusion and diversity in our pursuit of a common destiny.’
Mr Grevemberg was chief executive of the Glasgow 2014 organising committee.
He was responsible for the preparation and staging of the festival of sport, overseeing 1,400 staff and 15,000 volunteers, and a procurement budget of £300million.
After its success, he served six and a half years as chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, and now works at the Centre for Sport and Human Rights in Geneva.
The Scottish Government gave its blessing to the event at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, allowing Commonwealth Games Scotland to take the Games forward.
But SNP ministers refused to put in any taxpayers’ money and gave a ‘categorical’ promise the public purse will stay shut if there are any cost overruns.
They also sought to dampen public expectations, stressing the cut-down Glasgow 2026 Games would be very different from the spectacular ones of 2014.
The budget will be £150m instead of £540m, with just 10 sports instead of 18.
There will be no marathon, or outdoor cycling or water events.
The organisers, Commonwealth Games Scotland, have said they are ready to trim the programme even further to stay within budget.
SNP health and sport minister Neil Gray denied they would be a ‘pound shop’ Games but conceded: ‘This is not 2014. It is not on the same scale, either in terms of investment, nor in terms of participation of sports and athletes. It has to be looked at in a different light.’
After the n state of Victoria pulled out of hosting the four-yearly games last summer, it paid around £195m compensation to the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Around £100m of that money will now go to Glasgow – the only city willing to keep the event going – with around £20m more available as a contingency fund.
Commonwealth Games has also chipped in £2.3m to cover security costs, matching a contribution by the UK Government.
Commonwealth Games boss Craig Philips said Glasgow could be a template for other cities from 2030 onwards.
He said: ‘The pared-back, more sustainable version, will create more opportunities for more countries in the Commonwealth to host the Games.
‘I’m sure they’ll start to make their way back around the Commonwealth again into the future.’