Glasgow kiss of life is needed to make sure that our Games will have a bright future
David Grevemberg believes the Commonwealth Games needs a kiss of life – from Glasgow.
The New Orleans native is on a mission to jazz up the ‘friendly Games’ as the CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
But he is convinced that the charm of Glasgow 2014 should be the blueprint for future success in the event.
And it is not just because the American was the man who ran the jamboree and has adopted Glasgow as his home.
The Games is fighting for its place in a crammed calendar of sporting spectacles ahead of Birmingham 2022.
So Grevemberg is set to rack up thousands of air miles this year, visiting countries big and small as one of sport’s global powerbrokers from his working base in London. But it is his family base in Glasgow where he is always desperate to return to at the end of the week that is inspiring him – and future Games.
Grevemberg said: “As Glasgow six years ago showed, there needs to be a bigger spin-off that makes the locals feel a sense of pride as well as inviting the rest of the world to feel right at home.
“We’re understanding cities’ ambitions and we also provide some feasibility work to really determine what’s on offer.
“And how does this fit into the long-term sustainable development of the city?
“Is it the right fit at the right time with the right people and the right purpose?
“It’s really putting all of that into play.
“I fell in love with Scotland when I was working in Glasgow 2014. So it means a bit of a commute to London for part of
the week when I’m not away overseas talking to other countries.
“But my family are settled here and we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.”
Grevemberg (right) is not living in the past, however, as he and the CGF president, former Scottish swimmer Dame Louise Martin, look to keep the world’s youngsters engaged in the Games. They are even considering e-sports at future Games and the American said: “How does our programme evolve?
“We are not necessarily going to add more sports – but what emerging sports are both relevant and resident in the Commonwealth?
“And are we actually tracking the appeal and the interest levels of young people? For the first time, we had a Youth Games put their ambitions to host e-sports which has obviously challenged us in terms of a wider debate on what that means to us. “I’m not saying that would be considered for the main Games at this point in time. But certainly it shows there is an interest. “So that’s something that we’re looking to with Trinidad and Tobago for the Youth Games in 2021.
“We’re also considering whether that’s an exhibition or a full medal.
“But the fact that there’s innovation out there, it’s really reflective of where we are in the sport industry.”
And there is still big demand from Commonwealth countries to host the sporting spectacle in the future. He added: “We made a decision to award the 2026 Games next year during our general assembly and Adelaide in Australia has expressed an interest.
“We also have a couple of other cities that are looking at it who haven’t openly declared yet. And Hamilton in Canada has been very open about their interest in hosting the 100th edition of the Games in 2030.”