Glasgow 2014 announces appointment of Head of Sport
13th May, 2009
Glasgow 2014 Limited, the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow between 23rd July and 3rd August 2014, has today announced the appointment of Greg Warnecke as its Head of Sport.
Greg will be responsible for developing the strategies within the sport function taking into consideration the requirements of sport competition, sport policy and operations, including sport services. His role will also involve developing the sports department’s structure and operational planning and instigating processes that will resolve issues that arise during the delivery of the sports programme. Central to this role is the fostering of relationships with national and international sports governing bodies and the Games delivery partners.
Greg is currently General Manager of the 2009 Australian Paralympic Youth Games, where his responsibilities are to implement all event planning to ensure the successful staging of the Games, which are being partnered by the Australian Paralympic Committee. The Games will involve participation from national and international athletes with a physical or sensory disability.
Announcing the appointment, John Scott, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014 said:
“I am delighted that Greg will be joining the team in this important position. Our ambition is to host an outstanding Games. This role has been one of my priority appointments as we want Glasgow 2014 to provide an unrivalled experience for the athletes and management teams. A world-class sports programme is a crucial part of this ambition and Greg’s early appointment will ensure the Organising Committee is on top of all the athletes’ and officials’ requirements in the planning of the venues and the sports programme.”
Greg Warnecke said:
“I am looking forward to planning and delivering a quality sport programme for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The Games will no doubt provide many opportunities for the City and for the whole of Scotland, from which a legacy of improved sporting facilities and greater community participation will hopefully be an outcome in the years that follow.
The sporting culture, passion and energy of the people of Scotland will play a major role in ensuring the success of the Games and I look forward to playing my part in that and to living in such a fantastic City as Glasgow.”
Ends.
For further information:
Contact details phone numbers
Gordon Arthur 0141 287 3455; 07917 307510
Notes to editors:
1. Greg Warnecke provides Glasgow 2014 with an excellent mix of national and international event experience, as well as advanced knowledge of the numerous Commonwealth and Olympic sports. His sport and employment background blends a combination of tertiary qualifications with both hands-on programme and event experience in a number of roles. As a result he has a broad understanding of the issues surrounding the provision of quality sport and event programmes involving elite, emerging or recreational athletes in a variety of sports.
Prior to his role with the inaugural Australian Paralympic Youth Games, he worked at the 2007 World Swimming Championships Corporation and 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation, both in Melbourne. In these positions he had direct programme management responsibility for the planning and delivery of athlete medical services, doping control, national federation communications, sport information, sport entries and results.
Before taking on the Sport Services portfolio at Melbourne 2006, Greg was responsible for all pre-event planning for basketball, aquatics, squash and table tennis. This involved establishing all of the key elements for each competition, including the development of the competition schedule, scope of equipment requirements, identification of training venues, staff and volunteer organisational structure, selection and training of technical officials, and all technology requirements including timing scoring and results.
Between 1995 and 2002, Greg spent six years at Melbourne University Sport in the high performance role of Sport Development Manager. He has also worked professionally in the Australian National Basketball League, providing further direct management of and exposure to elite athletes. In sport, he is well travelled as an employee and also as a volunteer attending and experiencing multiple major international events including Olympic and Paralympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and World University Games.
Greg will commence with Glasgow 2014 Limited as Head of Sport in August 2009, subject to timely visa issuance.
2. Responsibilities of Glasgow 2014 Ltd. include delivering the sports programme, monitoring the development of new and improved infrastructure, ensuring all venues are Games-ready and recruiting and training the 15,000 volunteers needed for the Games.
3. The Glasgow 2014 Games will be the biggest multi-sports event that Scotland has ever hosted, bringing over 6,500 athletes and officials from 71 countries to the city to compete in 17 different sports in 13 venues over 11 days between 23rd July and 3rd August 2014. With a budget of £373 million (at April 2007 prices), including public investment of £298m, the Commonwealth Games are expected to bring significant sporting, economic and social benefits to Glasgow and Scotland.
