GLASGOW will spend $22 million on the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the largest events of their kind ever staged in the city.
An estimated one billion people worldwide will watch the ceremonies and, despite the sum lavished on the event, organisers insist it is modest compared to spending at Manchester 2002 and Melbourne 2006.
Manchester’s bill for its opening ceremony alone was $19 million a decade ago, while both of Melbourne’s events cost roughly double what Glasgow is planning.
The opening ceremony will be staged at Celtic Park on July 23 in front of 60,000 spectators, including the Queen, and will involve a “Parade of Nations” and “an epic end” to the Queen’s baton relay, the equivalent of the Olympic Torch relay.
The closing ceremony 11 days later will take place at Hampden Park, when the flag is handed to Australia’s Gold Coast, which will host the Games in 2018.
The 2014 Organising Committee will now launch a global search for the creative team to deliver both events, although outwith the budget there is nothing by way of detail as to what the ceremonies might involve.
Eileen Gallagher said: “This is our chance to deliver both an outstanding live experience and a global show-reel which allows Glasgow and Scotland to shine.”
