Usain Bolt was in Glasgow 2014. He came, he saw and he said: “This is crap.” Supposedly.
And then he triumphed, as he always did, and Hampden was left singing and shouting in the rain as the world’s greatest sprinter danced around the temporary track wearing a hat that said “See you later Jimmy.”
It turned out to be one of the most iconic images of the Games, not least because it was the only Commonwealth event Bolt attended and the only Commonwealth medal he won, in the 4×100 metres relay.
Bolt’s faux pas (he later denied it, but The Times, which broke the story, stood by it and printed a transcript of the conversation) came as he stood in the rain waiting for a car to pick him up in east Glasgow.
The sun that had blessed the start 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 same words had they been waiting for a taxi as the skies opened up once again during what was supposed to be summer.
Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt reportedly criticised Glasgow on his previous visit to the city
As it turned out, the Games and Bolt’s appearance proved to be an undeniable success for both the city and Scotland.
Bolt’s story, however, is a warning to those pushing for the Games to return to Glasgow in two years’ time. There is a very real fear that his words will ring true this time.
There are valid concerns about cost, quality and the precedent that smaller-scale Games would set.
We’re being handed a cheque for £100m in the face, but it might as well be like being given a £10 voucher from Greggs to help pay for a wedding. It’ll buy us a couple of sausage rolls, but not the buffet.
Australia’s latest offer of financial assistance for the Commonwealth Games is, of course, intriguing. In terms of the decision to host the Games or not, it could be a turning point, but will it allay all the concerns about this bid and what lies ahead? I’m afraid not.
In the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, much of the talk was about who would be attending. The 2012 Olympics in London had certainly whet the public’s appetite, but there was no doubt that Glasgow needed some glamour and gravitas if it was to avoid making the Mayor’s spectacle too big a deal.
The big blow to Sir Chris Hoy, Scotland’s greatest Olympian, was the announcement that he would not be riding in the velodrome that bears his name during the Games, as he was retiring from cycling. Fellow Londoners Jess Ennis and Mo Farah would also be absent.
Glasgow welcomed athletes from around the world to the 2014 Commonwealth Games
It seemed like every media event leading up to the Games was dominated by questions about who would be attending. Sure enough, in the end, Bolt did go, although he eschewed the individual trials to take part in what was a memorable appearance on Jamaica’s gold medal-winning relay team.
However, the Commonwealth Games were already beginning to lose their lustre. In fact, as athletics became more professional (more money was invested and the rewards were ever greater), athletes were already having to prioritise their events.
If we take athletics as an example (and it is not the only sport at the Commonwealth Games, 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 after the money.
There would appear to be little chance that Glasgow 2026 would be able to offer financial rewards to its competitors, nor would organisations such as World Athletics fund such an event.
So concerns about reputational damage, as expressed by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray earlier this week, are certainly valid if big names cannot be enticed into competing.
“This is not a replica of the 2014 Games,” Gray warned. “It’s a smaller version, with fewer sports and fewer venues, so there is reputational and financial risk.”
Scotstoun has been touted as a possible venue for athletics events.
In fact, in 2014, Glasgow used all three of the city’s main stadiums. The opening ceremony was held at Celtic Park, the rugby sevens at Ibrox and the athletics at Hampden. They were packed and the crowds were in top form.
Although details about the exact venues and reduced number of sports are still vague, there has been no suggestion that any of those three sporting cathedrals will be used again.
Scotstoun has been touted as an athletics venue but, to give some context, the current occupants, Glasgow Warriors, don’t even believe it meets the requirements.
Scotland’s Commonwealth Games budget includes a refurbishment, but even increasing the capacity to just over 10,000 will not make a huge difference. It is still more of a bowling club than a blockbuster stadium.
To be fair, the other possible venues are not such a big problem. Swimming, cycling, gymnastics, bowling, boxing etc would all be well catered for, with an improved Tollcross, the Emirates Stadium and the Hydro all proven and popular sporting hosts.
However, athletics has always been the star event at every major Games and Scotstoun simply does not feel up to the task.
Of course, fear of embarrassment should not be the deciding factor in Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games, but it could have a domino effect if the Scottish Government were to give the go-ahead for the bid, and that should certainly be taken into account.
Scottish MP Neil Gray has serious doubts about whether Glasgow would be fit to host another Games
CGS Scotland boss Ian Reid, while saying no public money would be needed, alluded to the financial pressure the government could be under to ensure 2026 does not become the year Glasgow ruins the Games through mediocrity.
“There will be no legal requirement for either government (UK and Scottish) to have to provide additional funding,” he told Mail Sport this month. “I’m sure the reason they’re having this discussion is to do with their own vision of what they want the product to potentially look like.
‘So, for example, if it’s six months until the event and we propose to them that this is what the opening ceremony looks like and they make a discretionary decision that for the benefit of the city or the country, they want to do something bigger and better, then of course we have a fixed sum of money to do it.’
Reading between Reid’s lines, it would seem that as soon as the Scottish Government says yes, there will be pressure to ensure it “isn’t crap”.
So, despite the denials, it really comes down to a question of money. And one could imagine Martin Lewis asking the UK and Scottish governments: Are you broke? Yes. Do you need the Games? No. Can you afford the Games? No.
Investment from Down Under could see the proposal through. But if the money on offer simply wasn’t enough halfway, would anyone really accept Holyrood handing millions over to what would be a second-rate sporting event rather than investing in hospitals or schools? Would any politician try to defend such waste?
Bolt, now happily retired, will not be returning to Glasgow in 2026. Sadly, the Commonwealth Games should not be either.
