Glasgow is a 'world class' event host says swimming chief

Top European official praises volunteers at Glasgow 2018

Author: Rob WallerPublished 10th Aug 2018
Last updated 10th Aug 2018

One of Europe's top swimming officials says Glasgow 2018 has sealed the city's reputation as one of the best in the world at hosting sporting events.

David Sparkes, the General Secretary LEN Aquatics, the sport's governing body in Europe, and a former CEO of British Swimming, was speaking to Clyde News on the final night of the swimming at Tollcross as Adam Peaty and Duncan Scott powered the British team to a gold medal in the mens 4 x 100m medley relay.

"Glasgow's done a fantastic job, there's no doubt about that." he commented. "Their co-operation, their willingness to work with us and resolve all the problems has been really good."

Glasgow has been hosting 6 sports across 11 days of compeition as the various individual European championships are brought together in one multi-sport event for the first time with the German capital, Berlin, is hosting the athletics.

Swimming has been one of the major draws over the last week.

In addition to the action in the pool at Tollcross LEN has overseen the synchronised swimming at Scotstoun, diving at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh and the open water swimming events staged at Loch Lomond.

David Sparkes praised the thousands of volunteers who help to put on the championships: "They have been fanstastic and they've worked as one team throughout the whole of the event and we've been really impressed by Glasgow and what it's done."

Glasgow's hosting of the European Championships comes four years afer the city won praise for staging the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

"They Glasgow are definitely world class and they should be proud of what they've acheived and really the people of Glasgow should be pleased with what they've seen here.

"This has definitely put Glasgow on the world sporting map, it's showcased the city as a place to visit and I hope that we'll see in the future more events in Glasgow."

Glasgow is already lined up to host the European short course championships at Tollcross in 2019