On 23rd June 1975, the convener for Central Regional Council, James Anderson, received a letter from the Chairman of the Glasgow Sports Promotional Council to request his presence at a meeting. The topic of discussion was to explore the possibility of Glasgow hosting the 1984 Olympic Games.
The 1972 Munich terrorist attack and the steep cost of the upcoming 1976 Montreal games had put many countries off hosting the 1984 games. Baillie Constance Methven of Glasgow, however, was undeterred and believed Glasgow’s dockyards could be transformed as part of the bid. Over the next two years, Central Regional Council’s Youth and Community Organiser Mr J. Watson would attend regular meetings to discuss Glasgow’s potential bid.
Although the games would primarily be hosted in Glasgow, Stirling was in line to play its part. It would host preliminary matches for the football event with training facilities also made available.
The main contribution to the bid from Central Regional Council was to help fund a feasibility study for the games on behalf of five local authorities: Lothian Regional Council, Central Regional Council, Strathclyde Regional Council, Edinburgh District Council and Glasgow District Council.
The feasibility study was published on 25th March 1976. The estimated cost of the games would be £400-450 million pounds. With revenue predicted to between £129-204 million pounds, the games would have a deficit of £34-74 million pounds to be made up through local authorities.
The high estimated costs and the belief that money could be better spent elsewhere meant it was unlikely the bid would get ever off the ground. The ambition, however, that Scotland and Stirling could play a role in hosting major events has been realised, with Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Stirling hosting the 2023 World Cycling Championships.
