2014 Commonwealth Games kicks into high gear
2014 Commonwealth Games kicks into high gear
Canadian cycling coach Richard Wooles has been around the track, so to speak. A long-time high performance coach, he’s been to four Olympics and four Commonwealth Games, along with more than 100 world championships as both an athlete and a coach.
Based on his recent experience at a UCI World Cup track cycling event in Glasgow, Scotland, he believes that the 2014 Commonwealth Games taking place in that city from July 23-August 3 will be a spectacular multi-sport event. “Over my career, I’ve been in hundreds of cycling facilities, but I’ve never seen anything like what they’ve built in Glasgow for the 20th Commonwealth Games,” he says, noting that the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome offers a dream list of features for coaches, from indoor storage to office space, video analysis capacity and extensive training facilities.
“The Olympic venue in London was beautiful, but this one in Glasgow is so vast it’s mind-numbing,” says Wooles. “And it’s so close to the Athletes’ Village that teams will be able to ride their bikes to training and competition which means not having to worry about bus transportation.”
The compact design of the Glasgow Games is one of the most appealing features for both athletes and coaches, according to Scott Stevenson, Director of Sport for Commonwealth Games Canada. “Just about every venue is within a 20-minute drive of the Village, which eliminates a lot of logistical concerns for Canadian coaches,” says Stevenson.
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) Precinct will be home to six sports—gymnastics, boxing, judo, netball, wrestling and weightlifting/powerlifting. It will also feature the International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre. “Within the SECC Precinct, we’ll have all of the combat sports in one location, which really helps with our planning for Team Canada,” says Stevenson. “With fewer mission staff, we can cover the multiple venues, whether it be medical, communications or coach and athlete services.”
Organizers have been working closely with international sport federations to coordinate competition calendars to ensure a truly world-class field of athletes.
There has also been regular consultation with the various Commonwealth Games Associations to confirm the types of services that coaches and athletes can expect.
“With input from Canadian National Sport Organizations we’re providing feedback to Games’ organizers on a whole range of things for the Village, including laundry services, gaming rooms, catering, work and meeting spaces and recovery rooms,” explains Stevenson. “And we’ve emphasized at every opportunity the importance of reliable wireless Internet both in the Village and at all the venues. We’ve been assured it’ll be in place.”
Stevenson notes that organizers have hired a lot of staff from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. “It enables the proper knowledge transfer and means that preparations are well advanced and that everything will be in place and properly tested.”
Wooles, who plans to be in Glasgow for two more international competitions this year, says the excitement is building for 2014. “I’ve already started talking to the athletes, telling them that Glasgow 2014 might be one of the very best events they ever take part in.”
Detailed information on the venues, sport programming and cultural events can be found on the Games’ website at www.glasgow2014.com.
More information on Team Canada will be available on the Commonwealth Games Canada website at www.commonwealthgames.ca.
