'Glasgow is gearing up to once again host something truly special'

Glasgow Times

a day ago

It's hard to believe it, but we're now less than a year away from once again hosting the Commonwealth Games, only the third city ever to stage it twice.
And the road to Glasgow 2026 is really picking up pace.
Finnie, our new Games mascot designed with the help of city schoolkids, was unveiled to the world last month, and in recent days global experts with experience in staging Olympics and World Cups have been appointed to help deliver the Glasgow Games.
Meanwhile, there's growing confidence among the partners, the Games organisers, the Council family, and Government ministers.
All of us round the table know that Glasgow is gearing up to once again host something truly special.
Of course, Glasgow 2026 is a new kind of Games.
They'll be different to 2014 in several respects, not least the remarkably short lead-in time and leaner sporting programme.
From a logistical perspective, this time the Council isn't running the event but is instead working closely with the Games' organising committee.
This time we'll make use of Glasgow's existing world-class venues and city hotels as there's no need to build new ones, so there won't be the huge building programme that was needed in the run-up to 2014.
What there will be though is investment into some of those facilities.
Scotstoun Stadium, for example, is undergoing work to allow it to stage world-class outdoor athletics, while the roof at Tollcross Pool is being upgraded, ensuring it's capable not only of hosting major competitions with elite swimmers but also that it continues to be a fantastic facility for folk who just use it as their local pool.
In the build-up to next summer we'll see more attention on the sport itself.
It's been great to hear many Scottish athletes talk proudly about how Glasgow has stepped up.
The Commonwealth Games is the pinnacle for many athletes, here in Scotland and across the world.
Audiences can look forward to seeing global names as well as the stars of the future at Glasgow 2026, with several of the Commonwealth big beast nations already talking about the participation of their major athletes.
The next 11 months there will no doubt throw up some logistical challenges.
That always happens with major event preparation.
But, from COP26 to the UCI World Cycling Championships, Glasgow has a proven and trusted track record in hosting big events.
And I've no doubt that, as we always do, Glasgow and Glaswegians will rise to the occasion again.
Just yesterday, at a meeting with my fellow Council leaders who make up the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, we were presented with new data on the performance of our city centre.
And there continues to be positive news.
Not only are we attracting more visitors than expected, but our business vacancy rates are relatively low.
And as confirmation of our cultural vibrancy, only London now has a greater diversity of international cuisines than can be found in Glasgow city centre.
Other recent data also shows year-to-date footfall and sales performances improving more than many of our comparator cities, with food and drink sales in Glasgow city centre among the UK's highest.
From Covid to the impact of online retail, these have been incredibly tough years for Glasgow city centre, as they've been for urban centres across the UK.
But there's a growing sense that the tide is turning.
The sale last week of the landmark Met Tower, for example, is a real vote of confidence and I look forward to seeing hundreds of new homes in the heart of the city.
And both George Square and the transformational Avenues programme are progressing well.
I'd encourage anyone who finds themselves around the Pitt Street area or the western side of Argyle Street to take a moment to check out these Avenues either completed or really taking shape.
I hope that Glaswegians are now beginning to see positive change taking shape.
And in the months ahead they'll see more progress as we deliver the city centre our citizens deserve.