Glasgow 2014: Events Held to Celebrate One Year until Commonwealth Games

There is one year to go until the 2014 Commonwealth Games begin in Glasgow and events are being held across the Scottish city to celebrate.

An 11-day sporting festival will see thousands of athletes go head-to-head in 17 different sports across 14 venues that will be used during Glasgow 2014.

Sir Chris Hoy has hosted a cycle challenge and breakfast of champions, with Team Scotland athletes also joining the Olympic and Commonwealth gold medallist for the launch of Glasgow 2014’s ticketing guide.

The chairman of Glasgow 2014, Lord Smith of Kelvin said: “Today marks an important moment in the journey towards the biggest sporting and cultural festival Glasgow and Scotland has ever hosted.

Making strides

“With one year to go, the organising committee is making great strides towards our ultimate goal of delivering an outstanding games for the athletes of the Commonwealth.

“I’m delighted to see how the city and the nation are getting set to welcome the world to enjoy our landscape, our friendship and truly great international sport.”

The one year to go landmark falls close to the one year since the London 2012 Olympic Games mark and Sir Chris (pictured below) expressed his excitement on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme.

“It’s a very exciting morning, one year to go,” he said. “I can’t believe it’s almost a year since the Olympics and we’re already looking forward to the Commonwealth Games.”

The main venues that are to be used during the Commonwealth Games are built and open to the public, with the athletes’ village scheduled for completion in January 2014.

Sport Minister Shona Robinson said: “”Over the next 12 months, the pride and excitement of hosting these games will continue to grow as the venues and village are made ready.

“People across Scotland, and the world, will now start planning their journey to witness the biggest international sporting event our country has ever hosted.”

SKY secure New Zealand and Pacific Islands broadcast rights

In other news Glasgow 2014 has signed a deal with SKY Network Television, who will now hold the broadcast rights to the Games in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

SKY will provide six channels worth of coverage, including news and daily highlights across their various platforms.

Glasgow 2014 CEO David Grevemberg said: “It is pleasing to see that the Pacific Islands is well catered for in this agreement as well as New Zealand.

“There is a huge appetite for sports fans of all the competing nations and territories to follow their athletes in action as they each bid for personal success at Glasgow 2014.”

SKY Network Television’s CEO John Fellet added: “We’re delighted to have the privilege of bringing this incredible event in high definition across multiple channels to Kiwi’s next year.

“We have a really talented team who I’m sure will do a superb job of producing this event, including providing footage for our friends in the Pacific Islands.”