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13th November 2007
CUMBRIA is set to benefit after a decision to hold the Commonwealth Games just 90 miles away.
Glasgow has been named as host city for 2014 games, and at just one-and-a-half hours from Carlisle, the event is expected to have huge knock-on effects for our county.
Cumbria Sport Partnership is urging people to get involved and try out some new sports.
Ian Stephens, chief executive of Cumbria Tourism, urged Cumbrian businesses to get involved and reap the benefits of having one of the world’s major sporting occasions on their doorsteps. He added: “It is great news that Glasgow has been successful in its bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games and everyone involved should be congratulated for their efforts. “When the games were held in Manchester in 2002, the surrounding areas including Cumbria benefited from the increased number of visitors to England’s north west, and we certainly hope that Glasgow 2014 will provide a huge boost to tourism in Cumbria, – particularly with the Border City of Carlisle being less than 90 minutes from Glasgow by train.”
Glasgow fended off a rival bid from Abuja, in Nigeria. The announcement was made in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where member countries of the Commonwealth Games Federation gathered to hear final presentations before submitting their votes. It will be the first time Scotland’s largest city has staged the games, although the capital Edinburgh has had it twice – in 1970 and 1986. The Glasgow bid won by 47 votes to 24. Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond hailed Glasgow’s victory and pledged: “We will make these games the greatest sporting event our country has ever seen. “They will be our chance to show the whole world the very best of Scotland.” Mr Salmond headed up Glasgow’s final presentation which lasted around 30 minutes and was accompanied by a video narrated by Sir Sean Connery. He told delegates that Scotland was ready to host the games for the first time since 1986. The First Minister said hosting the games in Glasgow would mean people would be “united in celebration of sport”.