2014 Commonwealth Games venues 'behind schedule'

Key venues for the 2014 Commonwealth Games are behind schedule for completion and ministers have not formed a plan for handling future problems, auditors have found.

A report by Audit Scotland said the new national indoor sports arena is being delayed, along with the revamp of the national swimming centre in Glasgow.

The report was written before organisers admitted this week there was £81 million ‘black hole’ in the event’s budget, but predicted the original £373 million cost could escalate.

It highlighted “unrealistic assumptions” by officials and warned that, with public spending facing a squeeze, cutbacks may have to be made.

All the venues are expected to be built in time for the games, but the report warned there is not much margin for error as some are scheduled for completion just a few months beforehand.

Scottish ministers have also failed to draw up a risk management plan to help ensure there are no further cost overruns.

Bill Aitken, a Tory Glasgow MSP, said: “Unless a firm hand is exercised, this project could spiral out of all control.”

Ross Finnie, Scottish Liberal Democrat sport spokesman, said: “The report confirms our fears that Monday’s storm of excuses for the budget increase won’t be the last.

“We’re likely to see the budget creep up and the Scottish government’s budget will have to be raided to plug the gaps.”

The report found new venues, such as the national indoor sports arena and the velodrome, are running behind completion estimates of March 2010 by 21 months.

The Cathkin Braes cycling course is now expected to be complete in March 2012, almost three years late, and the refurbishment of Glasgow Green hockey complex is not due to be completed until March 2013, 18 months late.

Meanwhile, the finishing date for the Kelvingrove bowls complex has slipped from September 2010 to August 2012.

And the refurbishment of the national swimming centre in Glasgow has been delayed from December 2011 until June 2012. The athletes' village is not due be ready until February 2014.

Hampden Park is due to host track and field events and the closing ceremony, while the triathlon will be held at Strathclyde Country Park.

Although refurbishment of both are on schedule has not been delayed, they will not be ready until March 2014, four months before the games start.

For this reason, the report noted the two venues and the athletes’ village “present a higher risk if there is any delay to their current timescales.”

“The experience of previous major capital projects is that there is a high risk of slippage, therefore these should also be closely monitored,” it concluded.

“Potentially unrealistic assumptions” included the level of sponsorship for the Games. The £81 million cost overrun announced this week was blamed on the income from the sale of TV rights being overestimated.

Caroline Gardner, Deputy Auditor General for Scotland, said organisers “need to continue to monitor and review the budget assumptions regularly.”

The Scottish Executive said the report provided a “snapshot” of planning for the Games until August this year, and “substantial progress” had been made since.