17/03/2008 02:01:00
Sustainability appears to be at the top of the agenda for the organisers of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Speaking at the Ramblers' Association Scotland annual meeting in Stirling, Derek Casey, the interim chief executive of the 2014 games, claimed that the event had the potential to be the most sustainable sports event in history.
According to the BBC, Mr Casey commented:
"Scotland is gaining a global reputation as a country that can host big events like the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup, and large-scale conferences.
"I believe there is capacity for our environmental record to shine as well."
Glasgow was announced as the host of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in November 2007, in a ceremony in Sri Lanka. The other competing cities were Abuja in Nigeria and Halifax in Canada.
Mr Casey stated at the conference that environmental principles had been a core focus of Glasgow's campaign from the bidding stage, with organisers intent on delivering a low carbon games.
Lowering Britain's carbon footprint appears to be high on the agenda for games planners this year. This week, the planning committee for the London 2012 Olympic Games are also set to announce their intention to turn the Olympic Stadium site into a 230-acre environmentally sustainable park after the event is over.
However, Mr Casey proposes that Glasgow's Commonwealth Games should take into account the public's ideas on creating a sustainable event, claiming, "... We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make the Commonwealth Games as sustainable and responsible as they can be."
While Glasgow has never before hosted the event, Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh has twice been a Commonwealth Games venue in 1970 and 1986.