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Scotland’s athletes should compete “with pride and with passion” when the Commonwealth Games get underway in Glasgow this week, John Swinney has said.
The First Minister wished everyone in Team Scotland good luck for the sporting tournament, which gets under way on Thursday – with King Charles and Queen Camilla due to attend at the opening ceremony for the event.
Mr Swinney told the Press Association: “I want to wish everyone in Team Scotland every success in the Commonwealth Games, they should compete with pride and with passion.
“I’m so proud of the city of Glasgow who have made these Games possible, without the city of Glasgow the Games could not have happened and they have stepped in to make sure his competition can happen.”
The First Minister had earlier insisted the city was “ready” to host the Games, despite the “ambitious” renovation work that is taking place.
While projects currently involve areas such as George Square, in the heart of Glasgow, being redeveloped, Mr Swinney said the work would not detract from the Games.
While concerns have been raised about Glasgow’s state, Mr Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme: “The city is ready for the Games.”
The First Minister added: “Yes, there are challenges within the city in terms of projects that are under way, the redevelopment and renovation of George Square.
“There is a lot of renovation work going on, Glasgow City Council have taken forward very ambitious projects around the city’s realm.
“They are a work in progress, but the Games are here. And, if they weren’t here, the Games wouldn’t be taking place anywhere in the world.
“So, it is a huge tribute to Glasgow for stepping up to the plate and enabling the delivery of the Commonwealth Games.”
Glasgow stepped in to host the tournament after Victoria in Australia pulled out amid concerns over rising costs, meaning this year’s contest will be smaller than when the Games were last held in Glasgow in 2014.
But Mr Swinney said that organisers had delivered the event “in an absolutely record time scale” and said there was “an unbridled enthusiasm and joy about coming to Glasgow” from the other nations taking part in the contest.
He praised George Black, the chair of Glasgow 2026 Organising Company, saying: “This organisation had 18 months to save the Commonwealth Games and the team, led by George Black, have done exactly that, working with the city council in Glasgow and with partners in Commonwealth Games Scotland to make sure the Games can be well organised.”
The First Minister said he was “looking forward” to what he was “sure will be an absolutely outstanding opening ceremony” in front of the King and Queen on Thursday.
“I think it will be another joyful moment for the city of Glasgow,” he said.
