Glasgow 2014_scaffolding_22-03-12November 19 - Key venues for the 2014 Commonwealth Games are months behind schedule, according to a report by Audit Scotland.

They say that the new national indoor sports arena is being delayed, as is the revamp of the national swimming centre in Glasgow.

The news has prompted calls for a Parliamentary statement on the issue, especially as the watchdog’s report emerged in the week that the budget for the Games had increased from £373 million to £454 million.

None of the projects are scheduled to miss the event, which gets under way in July 2014.

But 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.

The completion of the refurbishment of Glasgow Green hockey complex has slipped from September 2011 to March 2013 and of the Kelvingrove bowls complex from September 2010 to August 2012.

The refurbishment of the national swimming centre in Glasgow has been delayed from December 2011 until June 2012.

Hampden Park_inside_22-03-12Although not delayed, refurbishment of Hampden Park, hosting track and field events and the closing ceremony, and Strathclyde Country Park, due to host the triathlon, will not be ready until March 2014, just four months before the Games start.

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

"Taxpayers need to know which budget will bear the costs and what else will be cut to pay for the increased costs.

"All eyes will be on Scotland in 2014.

"The Commonwealth Games is one of the most prestigious events anywhere in the world.

"We simply cannot afford to get it wrong."

John Scott, the chief executive of Glasgow 2014, said: "The fieldwork they did for this report was done between April and August and of course we are a constantly evolving institution with our work progressing and some of the issues they refer to in the report have already been dealt with."


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