Organisers revealed early last month that they were going to bring down five of the remaining six Red Road tower blocks as part of an explosive Opening Ceremony to the Games on July 23, watched by an estimated audience of one billion around the world as well the thousands inside Celtic Park watching on a 100 metre-wide LED screen.

The demolition was to last 15 seconds and use 1,250 kilogrammes of explosives, razing to the ground the famous tower blocks in the north east of the city which were originally built in the 1960s and were once the highest residential flats in Europe.

Less than two weeks after the plan was announced, the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee was forced to abandon the idea claiming the main reason was concerns over safety and security, particularly as one block of flats was being left standing as it currently houses asylum seekers.

However, while safety concerns may have been a factor, there was also huge public outcry at the idea with opponents claiming the demolition was insensitive to former residents and the asylum seekers.

By the time the plan was scrapped more than 10,000 people had signed a petition started by former Socialist Member of the Scottish Parliament, Carolyn Leckie, calling for the demolition to be halted.

Two of the eight original Red Road towers have been demolished with this one coming down in May last year ©Getty Images



Speaking to insidethegames, Grevemberg conceded that the plans were ambitious but the idea behind them was to celebrate Glasgow's past and also demonstrate how Glasgow is changing for the better through the regeneration of the city.

"Our initial target was that it was to be a commemorative moment and a celebratory moment," said Grevemberg.

"We thought in our initial phasing that it was a great way of telling a story of how we [Glasgow City] have been but at the same time it would have been a very dramatic moment and tell the story of where we are going in terms of Glasgow and the Commonwealth and telling that story of regeneration.

"After the debates and the various conversations around the concept we decided to move in a different direction.

"It was a combination of safety concerns and obviously there was a lot of debate around [the planned demolition] and we wanted this to be a commemorative moment and not a moment of protest.

"These things are about people and people have strong viewpoints.

"I think we were a little audacious and bold in the concept initially and we said that from the very beginning.

"It certainly hasn't derailed anything or our planning or our motivation or support across the board and people certainly feel listened to on all sides.

"Right now it's just about getting everyone to come together around the Games and to celebrate the fruits of our labour and that's where our focus is now."

Glasgow 2014 organisers claimed the demolition of the Red Road towers would signal how Glasgow is changing for the better through regeneration around the Games ©Getty Images



Despite having to shelve the plans, Grevemberg denied it was embarrassing for him and his Organising Committee

"Well these sorts of things can happen and I would like people to judge us on the decisions we take and the resolutions we find and I think if anything there has been a very courageous conversation that has been out there from all sides around this," he said.

"I think there is value in any conversation.

"From that standpoint, this has all been part of the journey but we are very confident in the way we are going.

"All in all, in terms of planning for the Games and planning for the Ceremonies I think we are in a great place.

"We will still be able to tell a very compelling story but just in a different way."

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