THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

Hampden, Ibrox and Parkhead offer to host rugby sevens
JONATHAN COATES
GLASGOW 2014 officials will choose between Hampden, Celtic Park and Ibrox as a rugby sevens venue for the hypothetical Commonwealth Games as they anticipate crowds of more than 30,000 flocking to watch the Fijians and All Blacks run riot with the oval ball.

Bid director Derek Casey said the use of Hampden for more than just the track-and-field programme remained an option, while Celtic and Rangers had both been "extremely helpful" in offering their facilities to the committee.

In 2002, the City of Manchester Stadium hosted athletics in the first week of the Games and rugby sevens in the remaining days. Casey refused to rule out going down that road but said his team were considering all their numerous options.

"We still haven't made a decision on the venue for rugby sevens," he said. "We have three stadiums in Glasgow and we are considering using all three of them in some way.

"Manchester used one stadium for track and field and rugby, so we are looking at the compatibility of that. But what we are convinced about is that the growth of attendances for rugby sevens means we would need to accommodate a lot of people.

"The use of Telstra Dome in Melbourne last year was a fantastic showcase for the game, and we are forecasting that interest in sevens will continue to grow. In terms of crowd capacity, we would be anticipating 30,000-plus.

"We have spoken to Rangers and Celtic, not just about rugby sevens but generally about the availability of their stadiums - it would be crazy not to. There could be a variety of other sports and cultural events that we need a stadium for, and both clubs, as well as Hampden Park Ltd, have been extremely helpful throughout."

NOTE FROM ED
THE THREE SOCCER GROUNDS MENTIONED HAVE A HISTORY OF HOSTING OTHER SPORTS.

HAMPDEN
THE GREAT OLD GROUND SOUTHSIDE HOME OF THE MIGHTY QUEENS PARK(TWICE BEATEN IN FA CUP FINAL) HELD THE SCOTTISH ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR MANY YEARS,TOOK IN RUGBY INTERNATIONALS LIKE SCOTLAND V SOUTH AFRICA 1906 AND EVEN THE INTER CITY MATCH WAS ONCE HELD THERE.

IBROX
HOSTED ONE OF THE GREAT ATHLETIC MEETINGS OVER MANY YEARS -THE RANGERS SPORTS WAS RECOGNISED AS THE GRAND PRIX MEETING OF ITS TIME LAST HELD IN 1962.MANY OF THE WORLDS GREATEST ATHLETES GRACED THE IBROX TRACK INCLUDING WORLD RECORD HOLDERS LIKE HERB ELLIOT,ALF SHRUBB,AND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS LIKE WYNDHAM HASWELLE. A GLASGOW ACCIE ROBERT STRONACH SET A SCOTTISH RECORD FOR THE 120 YARDS HURDLES THERE THAT WAS TO STAND FORTY THREE YEARS

PARKHEAD
IN COMMON WITH THE OTHERS PARKHEAD WAS ALSO A VENUE FOR ATHLETICS EVEN HOSTING THE SCOTTISH CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS .AT THE END OF THE FIRST WAR CELTIC ALSO HOSTED BASEBALL MATCHES BETWEEN AMERICAN TROOPS.
HOWEVER ON ONE FAMOUS OCCASION IN 1889 THE CLYDSEDALE HARRIERS ACTUALLY BEAT CELTIC AT FOOTBALL--NOT SUPRISING AS THE HARRIERS HAD PREVIOUSLY ALSO BEATEN THIRD LANARK AND ENGLISH GIANTS PRESTON NORTH END

This article was originally posted on 17-Jan-2007, 09:24 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 17-Jan-2007, 09:32.