With the news in todays Herald that the Commonwealth Rugby Sevens are to be held at Ibrox should Glasgow's bid be successful its worth recalling that this is not the first time that Rangers shared facilities with the sport of Rugby
In the 1870s they shared a pitch at Burnbank with Glasgow Accies whilst en route from Glasgow Green to Kinning Park


Games ceremony at Celtic Park
DOUG GILLON May 09 2007


Celtic Park will stage the opening ceremony for the 2014 Commonwealth Games if Glasgow's bid succeeds.

Though the 35-strong delegation who will present the city's candidature file remained tight-lipped last night, Parkhead is understood to be the preferred option in the 600-page bid document which is to be formally lodged along with that from their rivals, Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

The Glasgow bid committee has already confirmed exclusively in The Herald that Celtic's stadium will have a role and, with the venues for all 17 sports included on Glasgow's proposed programme now designated, Parkhead's only possible role is the opening ceremony. Herald sources have confirmed this.

It makes logistic and financial sense. At 60,000, Parkhead has a greater capacity than Hampden which will host athletics events, but will be reduced to a capacity of 46,000 because of reconfiguration with a temporary track and additional media seating. That means 14,000 more public seats available to sell, with important revenue implications. Doubly so if, as expected, the closing ceremony is also there.

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Ibrox is already named as the venue for all of the seven-a-side rugby tournament, and the involvement of all three major stadiums in Glasgow is designed to bring the whole city together.

Celtic has the advantage of past experience in this area. The old ground hosted a dramatic and emotional opening ceremony with 45,000 spectators for the launch of the 1990 European Special Olympics, while two years ago the redesigned stadium was used for the opening of the National Games for athletes with learning difficulties. Only part of the stands were opened for that, with 25,000 spectators.

The Commonwealth Games Federation will receive the bids at a formal ceremony today in London, and only then will the strength of Nigeria's bid be known.

Of greatest concern to Glasgow is the possibility of oil-rich Nigeria offering a package of financial inducements. Louise Martin, chair of the Scottish Commonwealth Games Council (SCGC), completed the 60th of 68 presentations made by Scotland in Malta on Monday night, and arrived in London yesterday evening.

At most of these the issue of travel and or development grants has been raised. "We will have a travel assistance package," said Mrs Martin, "but we have no idea what Abuja is doing. They have kept very quiet about it."

Delhi won the right to host in 2010 after delivering an eleventh-hour assistance package, which took their Canadian rivals, Hamilton, by surprise. "The rules have since been changed," confirmed Mike Fennell, president of the Commonwealth Federation. Mike Hopper, federation secretary, echoed this: "There's a line in the sand after tomorrow."

Mr Fennell warned: "What we are trying to control is a feeling of too much one-upmanship. What the rules mean is that tomorrow if Abudja offers $10 and Glasgow offers $5, Glasgow can't afterwards offer $12."

Both cities propose almost identical 17-sport programmes. Abuja has basketball which Glasgow dropped in favour of triathlon, at Strathclyde Park. The other 16 sports are the same.

Neither of Scotland's proposed shooting venues will be in Glasgow. It was made clear that, without shooting on the programme, the Glasgow bid was doomed, and there will be no facilities legacy for the sport. A sealed police range at Jackton, near East Kilbride, it emerged last night, will host all shooting events except full bore rifle, already confirmed for the Army range at Barry Buddon, near Carnoustie.

The 35-strong Glasgow bid team, comprising the three stakeholders (Glasgow City Council, Scottish Executive and SCGC), representatives of the six major commercial supporters, and Scottish sports governing bodies attended a joint celebration with Abuja last night. The Nigerian delegation seemed to be double the size, and there were a dozen Nigerian journalists, against just three from Scotland.

Today each city will make 15-minute presentations, including video. The vote is on November 9 in Sri Lanka. There are 71 members, so 36 votes will secure the Games.

The venues


Athletics Hampden Park
Aquatics Tolcross, but diving in Edinburgh
Boxing SECC
Badminton New national indoor arena
Squash Scotstoun
Weightlifting Armadillo, pictured below
Lawn Bowls Kelvingrove
Hockey Glasgow Green
Rugby Sevens Ibrox
Netball SECC
Judo Kelvin Hall
Wrestling Kelvin Hall
Triathlon Strathclyde Park
Gymnastics SECC
Table tennis Scotstoun
Shooting Barry Buddon and Jackton

This article was posted on 9-May-2007, 07:22 by Hugh Barrow.