GLASGOW 2014 had Usain Bolt. He came, he saw, he said: ‘It’s a bit s***’. Allegedly.
And then he conquered, as he always did, and Hampden was left singing and shouting in the rain as the world’s greatest-ever sprinter danced round the temporary track in a ‘See you Jimmy’ hat.
It proved be one of the Games’ most iconic images, not least because it was the only Commonwealths Bolt had ever attended and the only Commonwealth medal he ever won, coming in the 4x100metres relay.
Bolt’s faux pas — he denied it in the aftermath but The Times, who broke the story, stood by it and printed a transcript of the conversation — came as he stood out in the rain, waiting for a car to pick him up in Glasgow’s east end.
The sunshine that had blessed the beginning of those Games seemed to disappear just as Bolt’s plane touched down in Scotland and, to be fair to the legendary Jamaican, many locals would probably have uttered those very same words had they been cooling their heels, waiting for a taxi, as the skies opened once more during what was supposed to be summer.
As it was, the Games and Bolt’s appearance proved to be an undeniable success both for the city and Scotland.
Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt reportedly criticised Glasgow on his previous visit to the city
Glasgow welcomed athletes from across the world to the 2014 Commonwealth Games
Yet, Bolt’s tale is a cautionary one for those pushing for the Games to return to Glasgow in two years’ time. There is a very real fear that his words would ring true this time.
There are valid concerns over cost, over quality and over the precedent a scaled-back Games would set.
A £100million cheque is being waved in our faces but it could be like being handed a £10 Greggs voucher to help pay for a wedding. It’ll get you a couple of sausage rolls but it won’t cover the buffet.
Commonwealth Games Australia’s latest offer of financial assistance is, of course, intriguing. In terms of the decision to host or not, it could be a game-changer. But will it allay every concern about this bid and what lies in wait? I’m afraid not.
Back in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealths, much of the conversation was about who would attend. The 2012 Olympics in London had certainly whetted the public’s appetite but there was little doubt Glasgow needed some glamour and gravitas if it was to avoid being very much after the Lord Mayor’s show.
There was an early blow as Sir Chris Hoy, Scotland’s greatest Olympian, announced he would not be gracing his eponymous velodrome for the Games as he pedalled off into retirement. Fellow London heroes Jess Ennis and Mo Farah would also be absent.
It seemed like every media event prior to the Games itself was dominated by questions over who would turn up. Of course, in the end, Bolt came, although he eschewed the individual events for what was a memorable cameo in Jamaica’s gold-medal winning relay team.
Yet, even then, the Commonwealth Games were beginning to lose their lustre. Indeed, as the likes of track and field was becoming more professional — with more money being pumped in and the rewards becoming even greater — athletes were already having to prioritise their events.
Taking athletics as a test case — and it’s not the only Commonwealth Games sport, of course — prize money is clearly a significant factor, especially after World Athletics introduced it for gold-medal winners at the Paris Olympics. Given that an athlete’s career is short and precarious, no one would blame them for running towards the money.
There would appear to be little chance of Glasgow 2026 being able to offer financial rewards to its competitors, nor would the likes of World Athletics bankroll such an event.
Concerns, therefore, about reputational damage, as voiced by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray earlier this week, are certainly valid if the big names could not be enticed to compete.
‘This is not a replica of the 2014 Games,’ Gray warned. ‘This is a smaller version, with fewer sports over fewer sites, so therefore there is a reputation risk as well as financial risk.’
Scotstoun has been touted as a potential venue for track and field events
Indeed, back in 2014, Glasgow utilised all three of the city’s major stadiums. The Opening Ceremony was held at Celtic Park, the rugby sevens at Ibrox and the athletics at Hampden. They were full and they were rocking.
While details about exact venues and the reduced number of sports are still vague, there has been no suggestion that any of those three sporting cathedrals will be utilised again.
Scotstoun has been touted as the athletics venue but, to provide some context, current occupiers Glasgow Warriors don’t even think it meets their requirements.
A revamp is included in Commonwealth Games Scotland’s budget for the Games but, even still, taking the capacity up to just over 10,000 isn’t going to make much of a difference. It’s still more bowling club than blockbuster arena.
To be fair, the other potential venues aren’t so much of a problem. Swimming, cycling, gymnastics, bowling, boxing, etc, would be well catered for, with an upgraded Tollcross, Emirates Stadium and Hydro all proven and popular sporting hosts.
Yet, athletics has always been the showpiece occasion at any major Games and Scotstoun simply doesn’t feel fit for purpose.
A fear of embarrassment shouldn’t be the deciding factor in Glasgow hosting the Commonwealths, of course. But it could have a knock-on effect if the Scottish Government did give the bid the go-ahead — and that should certainly be considered.
Neil Gray MSP has serious concerns over whether Glasgow would be fit to host another Games
CGS Scotland chief Ian Reid, while claiming that no public money would be needed, did allude to the financial pressure the government might come under to ensure 2026 didn’t become the year Glasgow killed the Games due to mediocrity.
‘There will be no legal requirement for either government (UK and Scottish) to have to put in extra funding,’ he told Mail Sport this month. ‘I am sure the reason they are having this discussion is around their own view of potentially what they want the product to look like.
‘So, for example, if we got six months out from the event and we proposed to them that this is what the opening ceremony looks like and they took a discretionary decision that, for the benefit of the city or the country, they wanted to do something bigger and better, then of course we have a fixed sum of money to do that.’
Reading between Reid’s lines, it would seem that as soon as the Scottish Government says yes, the pressure will be on to ensure ‘it’s not a bit sh*t’.
So, despite the denials, it really does all then come down to money. And you could imagine Martin Lewis asking both the UK and Scottish Governments the following: Are you skint? Yes. Do you need the Games? No. Can you afford the Games? No.
The investment from Down Under could push the bid over the line. But, if the money on offer simply wasn’t enough halfway down the road, would anyone really accept Holyrood handing over millions to what would be a second-class sporting event instead of investing in hospitals or schools? Would any politician try to defend such profligacy?
Bolt, now happily retired, won’t be coming back to Glasgow in 2026. Unfortunately, neither should the Commonwealth Games.