For the second time Glasgow has been named on the shortlist for the SportBusiness Ultimate Sports City Award, which is offered to cities with exceptional sporting records of hosting competitions and events. The winner of the 2014 award will replace current holders London as the top sporting city, and it will be the fifth time the award has been bestowed since its inception in 2006.
At the last awards in 2012 Glasgow ranked inside the top 10, surpassing cities such as Tokyo and Madrid, and this year will hope to improve upon that already hugely impressive position. The cities on the shortlist are evaluated by a panel who judge the scope and volume of events hosted during an 8 year period -2010 to 2018- which has this year been extended to include both cultural and home-grown events to provide a more comprehensive and nuanced picture of the winning city. SportBusiness also announced the use of size bands to allow cities with smaller populations to be reflected accordingly in winning individual awards throughout the categories of judging.
Councillor Gordon Matheson, the Leader of Glasgow City Council, commented that “Glasgow has invested some £200 million in our sports infrastructure, including venues such at the £113 million Emirates Arena, incorporating the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and has played host to a raft of national, European and world championships in recent years”
“In less than 200 days we will host the Commonwealth Games and we’re already preparing to host the FIG World Gymnastic Championships and major cultural events such as the Turner Prize, both in 2015”
“I’m sure the judging panel will be impressed, not only by that, but also by our ambitions to build on our cultural portfolio, including the Riverside Museum, the current European Museum of the Year and our ambitious plans to refurbish the Burrell Collection and the Kelvin Hall.”
The winner will be announced at the SportAccord Convention in Antalya, Turkey in April and the prize of Ultimate Sports City 2014 will be presented to the winning city, while awards for individual winners across different categories will also be presented.
Having already made the top 10 at the last competition, and with so many eminent cultural and sporting events adorning Glasgow’s calendar over the coming years, the chances for an improved position seem ever more likely.
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