2014 Games excitement builds
The Commonwealth Games has underlined its position as one of the world’s leading sporting events with Glasgow 2014 organisers receiving over 2.3 million ticket requests for the 1 million tickets on sale in the first round of applications. Australian Commonwealth Games Association CEO Perry Crosswhite AM says the strong public interest reflects the ongoing affection the general public have for the Games and the quality of competition which will be on display across the 18 sports. Mr Crosswhite said, “The high levels of public interest we are seeing around the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games ticket application underlines the significance the Games still hold in the eyes of the public and the quality of the competition the Australian Team can expect to face next year. “This popularity is also ensuring we have a healthy platform to build on when Australia hosts the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.” The high number of ticketing requests echoes the earlier success of Glasgow 2014’s appeal for Games volunteers which saw a record breaking 50,000 applicants apply for 15,000 volunteer roles available. “There is no doubt Scotland has really embraced these Games,’ said Crosswhite. “The obvious excitement and anticipation we are already seeing points towards our athletes experiencing a fantastic atmosphere when they step out to compete. “With just over 300 days to go until the Opening Ceremony, and the venues well on track for completion, Glasgow 2014 is shaping up to be another truly memorable sporting event.” The 2014 Commonwealth Games – being held from 23 July to 3 August – will be the largest sporting event ever staged in Scotland with around 6,500 athletes and team officials from 71 nations and territories competing in 18 sports. The 18 sports in the Glasgow 2014 Sports Program are: Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Diving Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby 7s, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting and Wrestling. The sports returning to the Games Program for 2014 are Judo and Triathlon, with Triathlon seeing the introduction of a Mixed Team Relay event. Glasgow 2014 are currently in the process of reviewing the first round of ticket applications with a fair and simple draw being used to select successful applicants where the number of ticket requests substantially exceeds the number of tickets available. This includes Athletics, Cycling (Mountain), Cycling (Track), Diving, Gymnastics (Artistic), Judo, Shooting, Swimming and Triathlon events. Successful applicants are scheduled to be notified between 30 September and 7 October. The Australian Team for Glasgow 2014 · Australia is currently looking at sending a Team in excess of 600, including 425 athletes, to Glasgow 2014 which will be one of the largest Australian Teams to compete overseas. · The Games program includes 22 medal events for Para-Sport athletes across five sports: Swimming, Athletics, Lawn Bowls, Powerlifting and for the first time, Para-Sport Cycling (Track). · Through its ‘Go Glasgow’ program, the ACGA is distributing $8m of its own funds to support athlete preparation for these Games. Grants are going directly to the participating sports, including Para-Sports. · This includes $1m of ACGA funding recently announced towards helping create a new eligibility Tier for the Australian Sports Commission’s Direct Athlete Support (DAS) scheme. This new Tier is to assist athletes ranked in the top three in the Commonwealth – or deemed strong medal prospects in Glasgow – who did not qualify under the existing DAS funded world ranking-based criteria. Glasgow 2014 · Scotland has hosted the Commonwealth Games on two previous occasions – in 1970 and 1986 – both times in Edinburgh. With 5.2 million inhabitants, Scotland accounts for just 8% of the UK’s total population. · Glasgow has a population of 600,000 and is Scotland’s largest city. · The majority of competition venues are grouped in three clusters around the city – …
