Both athletes, who are targeting podium finishes at their home Games next summer, were given a behind the scenes tour of the site - where 85 per cent of the homes are already complete - to mark one year to go until team members and officials from 71 nations take up residence at the 700-home Dalmarnock facility.

The Athletes' Village, developed by City Legacy on a 35-hectare site, will include a full medical centre, shops, recreation areas and 24-hour dining facilities, and is Scotland's first large-scale carbon neutral housing development.

"We want the athletes who come for the Games to have the best possible experience and the Games Village is a crucial part of that," Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg said.

"With one year to go until the athletes arrive, the site is already 85 per cent complete which is a really positive message.

"The Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee promised that we would have an athlete centred and sport focused Games and this is really epitomised by the Athletes' Village.

"We have consulted all the way along the project to make sure that this really does become a home from home where athletes can relax between training and competition.

"It is fantastic to see the development at this stage already and to get a flavour of what it will be like this time next year."


The complex will be divided into four Scottish-themed zones - Clan, Castle, Mountain and Loch, and during Games-time is expected to see the coming and going of 390,000 village meals - including 11,600 kg of mushrooms, 10,000 loaves of bread and 500,000 pieces of fruit, 30,000 towels, 1,400 litres of liquid soap and 20,000 toilet rolls.

"As a member of the Commonwealth Games' Federation's Coordination Commission I've followed the progress of the Game Village development very closely," Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive Mike Hooper said.

"I am confident that, through this Village, the Organising Committee will achieve its goal of providing the Commonwealth's athletes with a real 'home away from home', providing an optimal environment within which to prepare for their competition and to perform at their best."

After the Games' the 700 homes will become available to the people of Glasgow, with 300 going up for private sale and 400 for rental.

City Legacy official Martin Kiely added: "The Athletes' Village will leave the lasting legacy of a vibrant new community with amenities, public spaces and housing only three miles from the city centre.

"It was important that we created opportunities for local people to further regenerate this area and to date we have provided 114 work placements and 89 apprenticeships at the Athletes' Village."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
June 2013: Glasgow "in great shape" to host Commonwealth Games says chief executive Grevemberg
April 2013: Glasgow 2014 making "very positive progress" says Coordination Commission
January 2013: Glasgow 2014 launches search for "gold medal" cleaning and housekeeping contractors