Monday 1st April 2019
DUMBARTON Football Club is delighted to announce its backing for a bid to bring the 2040 Olympic Games to West Dunbartonshire.
The campaign, named WD40, should really put some oil in the engines of sports fans around the area with the aim of bringing sport’s greatest event to the area.
Sons have confirmed that the C&G Systems Stadium would stage the rugby sevens event should West Dunbartonshire’s bid be successful.
But that won’t be the end of the club’s involvement, as chairman John Steele has this morning announced that we will support the campaign all the way.
The bid will officially be unveiled today (Monday, April 1) at midday.
He said: “Bringing the Olympic Games to West Dunbartonshire would be a stunning, once-in-a-generation experience for the area.
“We understand that the International Olympic Committee have clarified that a full Scottish council area is allowed to bid for the games.
“A lot of behind-the-scenes work has gone on with a view to making a move to bring the Olympics to our area and it is something Dumbarton will support to its full extent.”
It is understood that the Olympic Stadium, where the athletics and opening and closing ceremonies would be staged, would be built on derelict land outside Dumbarton, adjacent to Lomondgate.
Other elements of the bid include:
• The athletes’ village will be situated on the set of River City. Agreement has been reached with the BBC that Shieldinch will be vacated by the cast for up to three months to allow the athletes to move in, although The Tall Ship will remain open for refreshments.
• C&G Systems will create a monorail around West Dunbartonshire, allowing those with tickets for the event to get about free of charge.
• A supergroup consisting of Texas, Talking Heads and Wet Wet Wet will compose the anthem for the games, entitled ‘Going For Gold’.
• Lyrics for the anthem are thought to go: ‘The heat is on, the time is right, it’s time for you, for you to play your game, cos people are coming, everyone’s trying, trying to be the best that they can when they’re going for, going for gold’.
• The marathon would be a variation of the Balloch to Clydebank Half Marathon, which took place last month, but would still finish in the Olympic Stadium.
• The swimming events would take place at Helensburgh’s new Waterfront leisure centre, which was given planning permission in January and is set to open in 2021.
• Land has also been identified for an Olympic-sized Velodrome to be built in Clydebank.
• Badminton, basketball, gymnastics, weightlifting, wrestling and martial arts would all be staged at the Meadow Leisure Centre in Dumbarton, which would be extended for the Games. Field hockey would take place at the all-weather pitch adjacent to Dumbarton East station.
• The boxing events would be staged at Alexandria CE Centre, while Loch Lomond Golf Club would host the golf. Tennis will be spread around clubs in the area.
• And Sons Supporters Trust members would be given a special priority period to buy tickets for all events.
The SPFL have agreed that all Dumbarton’s fixtures at the start of season 2040/41 can be played away from home, in order to give the stadium time to be transformed and return to its usual state again.
A spokesperson for the WD40 bid said: “This is going to be a hugely exciting prospect for West Dunbartonshire and we hope it is something that everybody will get right behind.
“You’d be a fool not to do that.”
Check back at midday for more details on this exciting development.
Donald Foolarton