Glasgow Commonwealth Games team shake hands with London Olympic officials on link-up

May 27 2010 By Ben Spencer

Scotstoun

ORGANISERS of the Commonwealth Games and the London Olympics are teaming up to share knowledge, equipment and sponsorship opportunities, it was announced this week.

Commonwealth Games chief executive John Scott met Olympic organising committee chief Lord Coe on Monday to sign an unprecedented agreement.

They met at Scotstoun Stadium to sign a "memorandum of understanding" which will see both games pursue joint benefits.

Glasgow 2014 organisers will hold talks with London 2012 bosses about buying equipment, hardware and software that will be "fit-for-Games" use at the Commonwealth competition.

Organisers of London 2012 have also offered to introduce the Glasgow 2014 team "where practicable" to their sponsors and commercial partners.

The agreement was possible because this is the first time an Olympic and Paralympic Games and a Commonwealth Games have ever been hosted within two years of each other in the same country.

Scott said: "It would be madness if we didn't look at how we can optimise benefits from it.

"I have to say, I think Scotland is doing better out of this than London because that is happening first and many of the benefits are flowing this way.

"I think that's one of the great legacies of London 2012, that Scotland's Games can be that much better thanks to the help we're going to get from London."

Lord Coe said: "It's a discussion we had very early on once Glasgow had been given the right to stage the 2014 Games.

"We thought this was a great opportunity for both cities to work together and to give us an even better chance of inspiring the next generation of young people to be involved in sport."