Hundreds go to Delhi on public purse

A delegation of 500 people, including dozens of public officials, is to be sent to India at taxpayers’ expense for the closing ceremony of this year’s Commonwealth Games.

The lord and lady provost of Glasgow will be joined by council officials and representatives from VisitScotland, SportScotland, Strathclyde police and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue. Edinburgh and North Lanarkshire councils and the British Council are also planning to send representatives.

Glasgow 2014, the body organising the games in four year’s time, plans to fly 400 performers to Delhi to take part in an eight-minute “cultural showcase” at the end of the ceremony. The event will end with Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow city council, receiving the Commonwealth flag.

Glasgow 2014 admitted last week that it has yet to calculate the cost of the trip. Opposition politicians said public-sector involvement in preparations for the games was excessive.

“Given concerns already raised about cost overruns in the Commonwealth Games project, I would hope we are in rigorous control of expenditure and these trips are absolutely essential,” said Murdo Fraser, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

Bill Aitken, the Conservative MSP for Glasgow, said: “I find it deeply disturbing that Glasgow 2014 did not prepare a budget before agreeing to send such a large number of people, which in itself seems to be excessive.”

The cost to Scotland of staging the Commonwealth Games rose last year from £373m to £454m because of an increase in broadcasting and staffing costs.

Glasgow 2014 has hired Unspun, a London-based consultancy firm, to create the show by amateur performers.

Organisers intend to hire a secret venue in Scotland to stage three weeks of dress rehearsals before flying the performers to Delhi, where they will stay for about three days.

A nationwide campaign will be launched next month to find volunteers to take part in the show following consultation with Creative Scotland and a number of arts bodies. Volunteers will be asked to contribute to the cost of the trip by fundraising and sponsorship.

Glasgow 2014 has defended the handover plans, arguing that the city would be brought to the world’s attention. “The flag handover ceremony at the end of the closing ceremony in Delhi is an important moment as it marks the start of the four-year cycle to our Games,” said a spokesman.

A spokesman for VisitScotland said: “The three members of staff are the same staff who would have been going to India for a trade mission and it makes absolute sense to dovetail our activity.”

Fiona Taylor, assistant chief constable of Strathclyde police, said: “Officers from Strathclyde will be taking part in the observer programme at the Delhi 2010 games. They will have behind the scenes access to their security operation and will bring that valuable learning back.”

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said it would send at least one person to Delhi to examine issues that might affect the games in Glasgow.

A Scottish government spokesman said it had yet to decide whether ministers or officials would attend.