WIREDGOV

Highlights report demonstrates success of XX Commonwealth Games. 

The full success of the XX Commonwealth Games held in Scotland this summer is set out in a report released yesterday by the Scottish Government and Games partners.

The Highlights report, which pulls together a wide range of data from the Games, shows the full extent of the impact of the event on Glasgow and Scotland – including visitor numbers, medal success and high street statistics.

Of those experiencing Glasgow 2014 events or attending Festival 2014, 93 per cent rated Scotland as a ‘very good’ place to visit and 87 per cent rated Glasgow as a ‘very good’ place to visit. When Scots were asked what, if anything they thought had or will change because of the Games, 73 per cent expected a positive legacy.

It shows that a record medal haul by Team Scotland was witnessed by more than 600,000 unique visitors to the Games and its Live Zones, with 1.2 million tickets sold – around 96 per cent of those available for sale.

And during the 11-day event, an outstanding nine World Records and 142 Commonwealth Records were set – including four Games Records from Scottish Athletes.

The Games will be delivered within the budget of £575.6 million with a target of £112.6 million to be raised by Glasgow 2014 through commercial income from broadcasting rights, ticket sales, sponsorship and merchandise sales.

As the report was published, Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Shona Robison, praised the efforts of everyone involved in the delivery of what the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, HRH Prince Imran, described as “the best Games ever”.

She said: “Today’s Highlights report demonstrates just how successful the XX Commonwealth Games were. We set out to deliver the best Games in history, and we certainly didn’t disappoint. It was an outstanding effort by all partners involved in organising the Games and an incredible show by Team Scotland with a record medal haul of 53.

“Scotland showed it is a warm, friendly and welcoming country by opening its doors to visitors from across the Commonwealth. The Games have left a lasting legacy that will continue for generations and I am sure we will soon see our young stars of the future beginning to emerge as a result.

“Our high streets have also reported a substantial increase in footfall in the build-up to, and during, the Games.

“And our mascot Clyde proved to be a massive hit with locals and visitors alike, with the replica cuddly toy selling in its thousands.”

Leader of Glasgow City Council, Councillor Matheson, said: "2014 will forever be known as the Year of Glasgow. The successful delivery of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games marked the completion of more than seven years of planning and preparation to host the biggest and best sporting and cultural celebration that Scotland has ever seen.

“It put Glasgow in the spotlight like never before and the city has emerged as the biggest winner along with our people who have been truly outstanding in welcoming the Games, the visitors and being supportive of all that hosting an event of this scale involved.

“We now want to focus on giving back through our legacy projects in employment and training, economic development and regeneration, green projects, participation in sport and community schemes.”

Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive, David Grevemberg, said:

“The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games set a new Gold Standard for the Commonwealth sports movement, new benchmarks for event delivery in Scotland and generated well-deserved accolades for Glasgow which, as the Host City, warmly embraced athletes and visitors during Scotland’s biggest-ever sporting and cultural festival.

“Staying true to our vision of an athlete centred, sport focused Games, the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee worked in collaboration with our Games Partners to make Commonwealth athletes and the young people of Glasgow and Scotland an integral part of a world-class, community-relevant Commonwealth Games that made people feel proud and which leaves a lasting impact.”

Notes To Editors

The full report can be found at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Assessinglegacy2014/Publications-Reviews