Glasgow 2018 will not be affected by Brexit fall out
June 28, 2016
The team behind Glasgow’s 2018 European Championships believe they have ‘universal political support, at national and local level’ regardless of what happens as a result of Brexit.
The UK voted to leave the EU least week in the referendum – a result which has left Scotland facing a period of uncertainty with First Minister for Scotland Nicola Sturgeon suggesting a second referendum is likely, as Scotland voted overwhelmingly to stay.
Regardless of whether they have a referendum of not, there appears to be no issues for the games organisers.
A spokesman for Glasgow 2018 said: “There has always been universal political support in Scotland, at national and local government level, for the staging of major events in this country and that remains the case.”
“The shared priorities of creating sustained sporting, economic and social legacy for our citizens remains our focus.”
“There are more than 50 countries competing in a number of the European Championships being staged in Glasgow as part of this event so whether they are a member of the European Union or not has never been relevant.”
“We look forward to staging a sporting event which will bring together athletes from member federations as far and wide as Kazakhstan and Portugal for what will be a fantastic festival of European sport and culture which will elevate the status of our sporting heroes.”
Sponsorship expert Nigel Currie believes there will be minimal impact on sport.
He said: “Sport is so powerful and it can basically do what it wants to so I can see that continuing. The UK just has so many sports events that we have the leverage to get around any problems. We have that two-year negotiation period and over that period I’m sure and problems will be identified and sorted before anything comes into place.”
Professor Simon Chadwick is an expert in the field, he believes that the global nature of sport means there are issues to be addressed.
He said: “The onus is on both the government and sport to quickly, assertively and confidently negotiate a way forward for the country and its sports, many of which Britain currently holds a competitive advantage in (football and Formula 1 being two examples). Until such time as we clarify what happens next to British sport, I fear that this country will be stuck in the slow-lane of what has increasingly become a globalised and cut-throat world of sport.”
The behind close doors discussions taking place will be key to the impact of Brexit on sport whether it be positive or negative.
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