Post by jennifer on Feb 5, 2014 3:38:30 GMT -5
In 2007, when Glasgow was chosen to be the host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games there was great excitement amongst Scottish citizens including Alex Salmond who said “We will make these games the greatest sporting event our country has ever seen.” The Commonwealth Games will give us the opportunity to see our favourite sporting stars compete against the very best in the world in our doorstep. All eyes of the world will be set on Glasgow during the summer of 2014 which means the Games organisers have high expectations to uphold. Along with the great excitement brings many concerns as to whether the Commonwealth Games will be beneficial to Glasgow or not.
One of the main concerns of the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow in 2014 is the amount it is going to cost to prepare for the games which means building new facilities and also for the cost of the running of the games, especially when the economy isn’t in great shape. The overall cost of the Games is estimated at £524 million with 80% coming from the government and 20% coming from the council. However, the delivery of the games could end up costing more if difficulties arise then more money could be needed to ensure that everything is completed to the highest standard.
As well as the costing concerns are the fact is that the games will only bring short term benefits. These include the jobs which are being made available. The Commonwealth Jobs Fund has helped 309 people gain employment and the Commonwealth Graduate Fund has done the same for 106 people. Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council has said “These latest figures show that the preparations for the games are already benefiting the city in many ways.” The games may be providing people with work just now but after the building work and the Games have finished these people will then be out of work again due to them only having a short contract. Those who are in catering and hotels will most likely see a boost in business during the time of the games as more people will be visiting Glasgow, although that will not continue to last once the games are over.
There may be many people who have concerns about the idea of the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow in the summer of 2014, but there are many groups of people who will benefit. For example, for Scottish businesses it may mean them winning a Games related contract which could then lead to them gaining further contracts and new markets, whether at home in Scotland or overseas. The Games will also give the opportunity for young people to get either a job, apprenticeship or a role as a Youth Legacy Ambassador which will then help them to gain new skills and experiences which will benefit them later in life. School children will also benefit as they will have the opportunity to learn more about the Commonwealth and the Games itself and also about values and about other countries and cultures that they have. Communities are one of the other groups targeted by the Commonwealth Games. The Games for them is all about the local facilities improving, participating in cultural events, working well together to celebrate during the time of the games. The final group being targeted is everyone. The plan is for the public to be inspired by the sport we watch and to become more active, whether that’s through simply walking or even starting a new sport. This is hoped that we will be able to recognise the benefits this will have to our health by doing so.
One of the aims of the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow is that we will be able to promote Scotland as “Scotland Welcomes the World.” This idea covers the country being able to secure other major events in the future if we are able to demonstrate a smooth running and successful Games. This could then help boost the international business profile for Scotland which could help the country’s economy meaning more employment available.
After the success of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the volunteers, known as the Games Makers, have been given a lot of credit for the work they did. Before the Olympics Paul Deighton, London 2012 CEO said “The volunteers are the face of the Games and they will turn what could be a good Games, into a great Games.” They managed to fulfil their role in the games to the best possible standard with many people saying “the volunteers made the Games.” When the time came to applying to be a volunteer at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games a record 50,000 applications were submitted which is more than all previous Commonwealth Games for only 15,000 positions. It is thought that this number is due to seeing the success and hearing of the experiences of the Games Makers from the Olympics. Volunteering at the Games is seen as a once in a lifetime opportunity which you don’t want to miss out on, so many people applied to be a volunteer because later on after the Games have finished they don’t want to regret not taking the opportunity to be involved in the Games.
With the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow brings new venues being built and venues that are already there being upgraded to meet the demands of the standards that are expected. An athletes’ village is being built in Glasgow will then be turned into flats after the Games to provide better housing for Glasgow citizens. Also after the Games are over the new sports venues that have been built will be opened up for the public to make use of. It is hoped that this will encourage more people to take up a new sport or to play more sport by playing where they watched the best athletes in the world win medals.
After the Commonwealth Games it is estimated that Glasgow and Scotland will benefit financially. Glasgow is said to benefit by £26 million and Scotland is said to benefit by £81 million from the Games.
In conclusion, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games could bring many benefits to the city through new venues being built and having the opportunity to use them afterwards. Also being a volunteer could be a great opportunity and a once in a life time chance. However, the Games are costing the country a fortune to host and there are mainly only short term jobs being made available rather than long term.
One of the main concerns of the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow in 2014 is the amount it is going to cost to prepare for the games which means building new facilities and also for the cost of the running of the games, especially when the economy isn’t in great shape. The overall cost of the Games is estimated at £524 million with 80% coming from the government and 20% coming from the council. However, the delivery of the games could end up costing more if difficulties arise then more money could be needed to ensure that everything is completed to the highest standard.
As well as the costing concerns are the fact is that the games will only bring short term benefits. These include the jobs which are being made available. The Commonwealth Jobs Fund has helped 309 people gain employment and the Commonwealth Graduate Fund has done the same for 106 people. Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council has said “These latest figures show that the preparations for the games are already benefiting the city in many ways.” The games may be providing people with work just now but after the building work and the Games have finished these people will then be out of work again due to them only having a short contract. Those who are in catering and hotels will most likely see a boost in business during the time of the games as more people will be visiting Glasgow, although that will not continue to last once the games are over.
There may be many people who have concerns about the idea of the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow in the summer of 2014, but there are many groups of people who will benefit. For example, for Scottish businesses it may mean them winning a Games related contract which could then lead to them gaining further contracts and new markets, whether at home in Scotland or overseas. The Games will also give the opportunity for young people to get either a job, apprenticeship or a role as a Youth Legacy Ambassador which will then help them to gain new skills and experiences which will benefit them later in life. School children will also benefit as they will have the opportunity to learn more about the Commonwealth and the Games itself and also about values and about other countries and cultures that they have. Communities are one of the other groups targeted by the Commonwealth Games. The Games for them is all about the local facilities improving, participating in cultural events, working well together to celebrate during the time of the games. The final group being targeted is everyone. The plan is for the public to be inspired by the sport we watch and to become more active, whether that’s through simply walking or even starting a new sport. This is hoped that we will be able to recognise the benefits this will have to our health by doing so.
One of the aims of the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow is that we will be able to promote Scotland as “Scotland Welcomes the World.” This idea covers the country being able to secure other major events in the future if we are able to demonstrate a smooth running and successful Games. This could then help boost the international business profile for Scotland which could help the country’s economy meaning more employment available.
After the success of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the volunteers, known as the Games Makers, have been given a lot of credit for the work they did. Before the Olympics Paul Deighton, London 2012 CEO said “The volunteers are the face of the Games and they will turn what could be a good Games, into a great Games.” They managed to fulfil their role in the games to the best possible standard with many people saying “the volunteers made the Games.” When the time came to applying to be a volunteer at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games a record 50,000 applications were submitted which is more than all previous Commonwealth Games for only 15,000 positions. It is thought that this number is due to seeing the success and hearing of the experiences of the Games Makers from the Olympics. Volunteering at the Games is seen as a once in a lifetime opportunity which you don’t want to miss out on, so many people applied to be a volunteer because later on after the Games have finished they don’t want to regret not taking the opportunity to be involved in the Games.
With the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow brings new venues being built and venues that are already there being upgraded to meet the demands of the standards that are expected. An athletes’ village is being built in Glasgow will then be turned into flats after the Games to provide better housing for Glasgow citizens. Also after the Games are over the new sports venues that have been built will be opened up for the public to make use of. It is hoped that this will encourage more people to take up a new sport or to play more sport by playing where they watched the best athletes in the world win medals.
After the Commonwealth Games it is estimated that Glasgow and Scotland will benefit financially. Glasgow is said to benefit by £26 million and Scotland is said to benefit by £81 million from the Games.
In conclusion, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games could bring many benefits to the city through new venues being built and having the opportunity to use them afterwards. Also being a volunteer could be a great opportunity and a once in a life time chance. However, the Games are costing the country a fortune to host and there are mainly only short term jobs being made available rather than long term.