23 Jul 2024
Ten years on, take a look at some of the legacies of the best ever Commonwealth Games
A decade later
Glasgow welcomed thousands of visitors to the city for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
The city was a sea of colour, and the atmosphere was buzzing.
Glasgow 2014 provided a feel-good factor and saw some of the world’s best sportspeople battle it out for medals.
The Games were broadcast to a global audience, which was estimated to reach over one billion people.
A huge cultural programme also allowed people to get involved in the Games even if they weren't
attending events.
The event confirmed Glasgow’s status as a trusted host of major global events.
The legacies of Glasgow 2014 continue to benefit the city and the people who live here.
These range from encouraging people to take part in sport to culture and tourism.
The best Games ever
The Games were the largest multi-sport and cultural event ever held in Scotland.
They featured ten days of competition, with over 4,000 athletes from 71 countries competing across 17 sports.
Glasgow 2014 also had the largest para-sport programme of any Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games Federation described Glasgow 2014 as "the stand-out Games in the history of the movement."
Billy Garrett, Director of Culture, Tourism and Events at Glasgow Life, said: "The 2014 Commonwealth Games helped cement Glasgow’s status as a trusted host of major sport events. The Games showed the world Glasgow has the expertise to deliver international events, most recently the inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships. "Since Glasgow was announced as the 2014 host city, the number of people staying fit and active through Glasgow Club (gym) memberships more than doubled while the number of Community Sport Hubs across Glasgow has grown from 3 before the Games to 18 with more than 100 clubs with thousands of members based in them. "Hundreds of the volunteers that made the 2014 Commonwealth Games so memorable, still give their time, skills and knowledge to ensure Glasgow remains a unique place to host world-class events."
Tourism
The Games highlighted Glasgow as a great place to visit.
Spotlight on Glasgow
The Commonwealth Games raised Glasgow's profile as a tourism destination.
Around 690,000 people visited the city during the 12 days of competition.
Glasgow 2014 also had wider international media coverage than any previous Commonwealth Games.
It's estimated to have reached a global audience of over one billion people.
Since then, the number of overseas tourists coming for overnight stays in Glasgow has grown.
VisitScotland also named The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as the greatest moment for Scottish tourism in the last 50 years.
Lynne Cooper, VisitScotland’s Regional Director for Glasgow City Region, said: "Ten years on from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the city continues to attract visitors from within the UK and across the globe. Subsequent events have cemented Glasgow’s reputation as a world-leading host of major sporting events and the city’s credentials as a leading cultural destination are evidenced by award-winning attractions such as The Burrell Collection and last year’s record-breaking Banksy exhibition. Glasgow is well-known for its music venues and festivals, and with its vibrant food and drink scene the city is constantly evolving its visitor offering. Events like the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games shine a spotlight on the city and the wider area. They are an important driver for tourism,
supporting wider businesses, jobs and contributing significantly to the local economy, while reinforcing Scotland’s reputation as a must-visit destination."
Conventions and conferences
The Commonwealth Games helped Glasgow build its reputation as an international conference destination.
The city attracted 59 sport or Games-related conferences between 2013 and 2018.
Since then, Glasgow has continued to host conferences of this nature, including the Host City Conference several times.
These events welcomed thousands of delegates and generated millions of pounds for Glasgow’s economy.
They have helped to establish Glasgow as a trusted host for international conferences.
The city has gone from strength to strength and hosted over 350 events in 2023.
More than 115,000 people attended. They brought over £140 million in economic benefit to the city from delegate spend.
Richard Muir, Deputy Chief Executive, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce said: "The 2014 Commonwealth Games stand out as one of our city's proudest achievements, showcasing Glasgow's ability to host world-class events. With 690,000 visitors and an economic boost of over £70 million, the Games highlighted the very best of Glasgow. We have since built on this success, attracting even more major events that bring investment, create jobs, and offer some of the finest cultural experiences available anywhere in the world. Residents, businesses, and visitors alike can fondly recall the impact of the Commonwealth Games. As a lasting legacy, we can look forward to many more high-profile events, a testament to the exceptional execution of the Games."
CLICK HERE to visit the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Legacy website.
