Glasgow wins Games bid
Friday, 09 Nov 2007 20:17
Glasgow is hoping to welcome the Commonwealth's top athletes
Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, has been chosen as the host venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Glasgow was in direct competition with Abuja in Nigeria as both cities made their final bid for votes with presentations to the federation committee in Sri Lanka today.
But the Scottish city was a comprehensive winner in the two-way race, securing 47 votes against 24 from the 71 Commonwealth member countries allowed a single vote.
The Queen was among those to pass on her congratulations to the Scottish bid team.
"I send my warm congratulations to everyone involved in Glasgow's successful bid to hold the 2014 Commonwealth Games - the third time that a Scottish city has been chosen as a venue for the games," she said.
"My good wishes go to you all and to the people of Glasgow as you celebrate this impressive achievement."
Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond had earlier highlighted the importance of hosting the games for the country as "they are the only multi-sport games in which our nation competes, as ourselves, as 'Scotland'".
"We will make these games the greatest sporting event our country has ever seen," he said after the vote.
The decision means that two of the world's biggest sporting events will be held in Britain in the space of two years, with Glasgow set to take the baton from London after it hosts the 2012 Olympic Games.
And London mayor Ken Livingstone took the opportunity to extend his congratulations to the Glasgow team.
"This is a fantastic achievement," he said.
"In winning the opportunity to stage one of the world's most prestigious sporting events Glasgow, like London, host city for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, can look forward to the huge benefits the Commonwealth Games will bring.
"Celebrate today's great news as Londoners did in 2005."
The last Commonwealth Games was held in Melbourne last year, while Manchester was the host to a hugely successful event four years earlier.