Glasgow Gets 2014 Commonwealth Bid Boost

Glasgow’s bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games received a major boost after
rival Canadian city Halifax withdrew leaving the bidding down to a two-horse
race.

Halifax’s home province of Nova Scotia withdrew its support due to concerns
over a projected $1.7bn budget, leaving Glasgow and Abuja in Nigeria left in the
race with the winner due to be announced in November.

A review of the operating and capital costs revealed that the Canadian bid’s
budget had reached nearly $1.7bn, almost $1bn more than originally expected.

Consultants analysed the potential legacy of a successful bid found ‘a number
of significant risks’ in hosting the event, including a higher than anticipated
need for public funding and insufficient contingency funding.

A joint statement from the province of Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional
Municipality said this could ‘leave the provincial government vulnerable in the
event of cost over-runs’.

In a statement, Barry Barnet, minister of health promotion and protection,
said: ‘We have said from the beginning that we would only support a bid that
does not compromise the province’s fiscal position, is the right size for Nova
Scotia and leaves a lasting legacy for residents. The risks associated with
pursuing the Games are simply too high.’