Glasgow 2014 Was “under Budget”

Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games cost taxpayers £37m less than originally budgeted, according to a report by Scotland’s Accounts Commission.

Scotland’s spending watchdog revealed that £424.5m was spent on the Games, when the initial budget was agreed, including public money and commercial revenue, had been £525m, but income from ticket sales and sponsorship took the final expenditure to £543m.

The Accounts Commission report said that approximated 1.2 million tickets were sold for the Games, contributing to £118m of commercial income, additional to sponsorship and other private funding.

Commission chair, Douglas Sinclair, said: “Strong controls and good planning resulted in a £37.2m under spend of public money, money which will now be returned to the public sector.

“The partner organisations and businesses worked very well together to make the Games a great success.

“As this is a really strong example of successful partnership working it’s really important for learning from this project to be shared within the public sector, to help future work.”

Caroline Gardner, auditor general, added: “Working to ensure a legacy has been part and parcel of planning for the Games, and we’ve seen a good start on this.

“With ongoing pressures in public sector budgets it is all the more important for the Scottish government and Glasgow City Council to ensure the planned legacy benefits are achieved.

“They need to continue to evaluate the impact to ensure the Games achieves their longer-term aims such as a healthier population and better life chances for people living in the east end of Glasgow.”

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