No ‘deep clean’ for Glasgow ahead of Commonwealth Games

Glasgow’s streets will not be subject to a “magic deep clean” ahead of the Commonwealth Games later this year.

A meeting of Glasgow City Council’s operational performance and scrutiny committee saw Labour councillor Imran Alam ask what the local authority was doing to bring Glasgow’s streets back up to standard ahead of the summer event.

Glasgow 2026 will feature a 10-sport programme concentrated across four venues within an eight-mile corridor.

A council officer said Glasgow City Council had received a significant amount of investment for front line resources last year and the focus would be on “day on day” improvements leading up to the Games.

The competition will return to the city 12 years after the hugely successful 2014 Commonwealth Games.

During Wednesday’s committee meeting, Alam said: “We are hosting the Commonwealth Games this year.

“Do we have a cleaning initiative in place to bring the city back to a standard required to host such a big event of this standard?”

A council officer replied: “There won’t be a ‘magic deep clean’ before the Commonwealth Games. It is about investing in communities and making improvements year round, day on day.

“The impact of the investment is already being felt across the city.”

The Games will take place across Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, the Emirates Arena – including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), while athletes and support staff will be housed in hotel accommodation.

About 3,000 athletes will be competing from up to 74 Commonwealth nations during the Games.

Story by Local Democracy reporter Catherine Hunter.