This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7084779.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Games friendly fight's last round | Games friendly fight's last round |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| Abuja and Glasgow have described the competition to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games as "fierce but friendly". | Abuja and Glasgow have described the competition to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games as "fierce but friendly". |
| On the eve of the vote in Colombo, Sri Lanka, BBC Scotland sports reporter Annie McGuire assesses the intensive lobbying campaigns to win the Games. | On the eve of the vote in Colombo, Sri Lanka, BBC Scotland sports reporter Annie McGuire assesses the intensive lobbying campaigns to win the Games. |
| Mr Salmond and Gen Gowon indulge in friendly rivalry | Mr Salmond and Gen Gowon indulge in friendly rivalry |
| Nigeria is fighting back. | Nigeria is fighting back. |
| "Remember, I am a general," joked Gen Yakubu Gowon, president of the Abuja bid team, while addressing the world's media. | "Remember, I am a general," joked Gen Yakubu Gowon, president of the Abuja bid team, while addressing the world's media. |
| Nigeria was ready, he said, for a "good, good fight" to take the 2014 Commonwealth Games to the African continent for the first time. | Nigeria was ready, he said, for a "good, good fight" to take the 2014 Commonwealth Games to the African continent for the first time. |
| "In a contest with two contenders, there are always favourites," he said. | "In a contest with two contenders, there are always favourites," he said. |
| "As they say in boxing, a little punch can always make a difference. | "As they say in boxing, a little punch can always make a difference. |
| "It is going to be a very fair fight and we will give it our best shot." | "It is going to be a very fair fight and we will give it our best shot." |
| The Abuja bid team reckons no amount of facilities or technical expertise can outweigh the political message they've been hammering home. | The Abuja bid team reckons no amount of facilities or technical expertise can outweigh the political message they've been hammering home. |
| Simply, they said, it was time Africa hosted its first Commonwealth Games. | Simply, they said, it was time Africa hosted its first Commonwealth Games. |
| Although we have a general here, this is not war First Minister Alex Salmond href="/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7082650.stm">East end hopes for Games | |
| Gen Gowon said: "We will be ready. We have held similar games, two African Games and they were both very successful." | Gen Gowon said: "We will be ready. We have held similar games, two African Games and they were both very successful." |
| Habu Humel, president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, added: "We have all the facilities, all the support of the government, the funding and the security. | Habu Humel, president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, added: "We have all the facilities, all the support of the government, the funding and the security. |
| "We are confident that tomorrow the vote will be in favour of Abuja." | "We are confident that tomorrow the vote will be in favour of Abuja." |
| The Scottish bid team - campaigning for Glasgow 2014 - had taken great heart from the Commonwealth Games Federation's evaluation report. | The Scottish bid team - campaigning for Glasgow 2014 - had taken great heart from the Commonwealth Games Federation's evaluation report. |
| It praised the strength of the Scottish bid, while questioning Nigeria's ability to host the games based on their current facilities. | It praised the strength of the Scottish bid, while questioning Nigeria's ability to host the games based on their current facilities. |
| However, after an initial wave of optimism, it is fair to say there are doubts creeping into the minds of the Glasgow bid team after a heavy day of campaigning by the rival Nigerian bid. | However, after an initial wave of optimism, it is fair to say there are doubts creeping into the minds of the Glasgow bid team after a heavy day of campaigning by the rival Nigerian bid. |
| One of the team of seven Scots athletes out here in support of the bid admitted he now feels the race is neck and neck. | One of the team of seven Scots athletes out here in support of the bid admitted he now feels the race is neck and neck. |
| A police officer stands guard at the venue for the announcement | A police officer stands guard at the venue for the announcement |
| The winning city needs to secure at least 36 votes from 71 Commonwealth Games Associations. | The winning city needs to secure at least 36 votes from 71 Commonwealth Games Associations. |
| First Minister Alex Salmond described the competition as intense. | First Minister Alex Salmond described the competition as intense. |
| "We have been working to present what we believe is a first-class bid for Glasgow and Scotland," he said. | "We have been working to present what we believe is a first-class bid for Glasgow and Scotland," he said. |
| "We have got great respect for our rival bid but we are very confident about Glasgow and Scotland's prospects." | "We have got great respect for our rival bid but we are very confident about Glasgow and Scotland's prospects." |
| Mr Salmond said it was a huge advantage that more than 70% of the facilities were already in place in Glasgow. | Mr Salmond said it was a huge advantage that more than 70% of the facilities were already in place in Glasgow. |
| "They are not plans on paper or computer graphics, they exist at the present moment," he said. | "They are not plans on paper or computer graphics, they exist at the present moment," he said. |
| In a joint media conference with Gen Gowon, he said: "Although we have a general here, this is not war. | In a joint media conference with Gen Gowon, he said: "Although we have a general here, this is not war. |
| "We are in the final stages of that election campaign and they are always dramatic and exciting." | "We are in the final stages of that election campaign and they are always dramatic and exciting." |
| Mike Fennell, Commonwealth Games Federation president, said: "It is a very exciting time for us. We have two excellent bids." | Mike Fennell, Commonwealth Games Federation president, said: "It is a very exciting time for us. We have two excellent bids." |
| BBC Scotland will broadcast the result live online and across Scotland on Friday. | BBC Scotland will broadcast the result live online and across Scotland on Friday. |