Message from our Chief Executive - Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

It is 10 years to the day since the 2014 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony was held in Glasgow.

More than 50,000 people were at the ceremony itself, tens of thousands more watched on big screens around the city, and tens of millions around the world tuned in to watch on television.

The Opening Ceremony set the tone for an incredible 11 days of competition, culture and mass participation in the Commonwealth Games that brought a feel-good factor to Glasgow and led to the Commonwealth Games Federation describing it as "the stand-out Games in the history of the movement."

Glasgow Life was at the heart of winning the bid, delivering the Games itself and the hugely ambitious year-long culture programme.

To celebrate the anniversary, we are taking a closer look at some of the legacies of the Commonwealth Games we created, were responsible for or helped to deliver.

There is a new Glasgow 2014 legacy section on the Glasgow Life website, which you can visit here.

The website celebrates seven legacy themes in total. You can visit individual sections by clicking the links below:

• Encouraging more people to get active and take part in sport.
• The impact of new and refurbished sport venues.
• Helping Glasgow to become a major events destination.
• Kickstarting a new generation of volunteers.
• Changing how culture is included in major events.
• Activating the acclaimed People Make Glasgow city brand.
• The growth in tourism since the Games.

Thank you to colleagues and teams across our charity for your work in ensuring the Games continue to provide positive legacies for Glasgow and the people who live here and visit here.

Our sport teams work closely with Community Sport Hubs helping them continue to grow and encourage more local people to get active.

Glasgow Club memberships have more than doubled since Glasgow was announced as the 2014 host city. Our Glasgow Club colleagues play a key part in making sure people who were inspired to join the club feel supported and get the most out of their sessions.

Over the past decade, Glasgow has become an events powerhouse. Our teams have built on Glasgow 2014 to deliver successful international events which benefit Glasgow. In addition to this, Glasgow has a reputation for hosting innovative multi-sport events like the inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and the 2018 European Championships.

Glasgow 2014 also created a culture of volunteering, which has continued in the city over the last 10 years. The enthusiasm remains strong, with more than 4,000 people volunteering at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. Our teams make sure volunteers are supported and continue to have opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills.

The Commonwealth Games also changed how culture is integrated into major events. Our arts, music and culture colleagues have built on this to ensure culture remains at the heart of major events in the city, supported by teams across Glasgow Life that use their skills and knowledge to create unforgettable moments based on the work they do every day

The 2014 Commonwealth Games was more than just a moment in time. It showed how collaborative working inside Glasgow Life and with stakeholders delivers life-changing opportunities for people in Glasgow, and you continue to build on these legacies across the city.

Thank you for your dedication to the people of Glasgow and Glasgow Life, and please enjoy a moment to reflect on the huge achievements of Glasgow 2014.

Kind regards

Susan

Susan Deighan

Chief Executive

Glasgow Life