Emirates inks deal for 2014 Glasgow Games

Emirates Airline was unveiled on Wednesday as an Official Partner of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Official Airline of the Queen’s Baton Relay.

The partnership strengthens the Dubai-based airline’s commitment to Glasgow and Scotland and will play a key role in profiling the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on a global stage, it said in a statement.

The announcement was made by First Minister of Scotland, the Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, at Glasgow International Airport.

Salmond said: “It is excellent to have such a prestigious sponsor as Emirates Airline on board to help us deliver a fantastic Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. 

"Emirates has a superb track record in supporting world-class sporting events and its involvement as a major sponsor underlines the global reach that the 2014 Games will have. 

"This announcement is significant, not just because of what it means for the success of the Games, but also as it demonstrates the excellent relationship Emirates continues to have with Scotland, after the airline announced an expansion in its Glasgow to Dubai service earlier this year. 

"Forming strong, enduring partnerships with blue-chip sponsors such as Emirates will be essential to ensuring that we are able to stage a hugely successful Commonwealth Games in Glasgow of which the entire country can be proud."

Lord Smith, Chair of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee, added: “Together, Glasgow 2014 and Emirates create a compelling partnership which recognises the international ambition and scale of the Commonwealth Games taking place in Scotland in 2014. 

“These Games create a world-class festival of elite sport and culture but also wider collaborations and further opportunities for Scotland on a global scale.”

Richard Jewsbury, Emirates senior vice president, Commercial Operations Europe and Russian Federation, said: “For many years Emirates has been at the forefront of sports partnerships in the UK. Now, we are taking this engagement to a new level, as an Official Games Partner of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Official Airline of the Queen’s Baton Relay.

"These partnerships are particularly significant for Emirates as we currently fly to 23 Commonwealth countries, enabling us to connect athletes and spectators from across the globe to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow through our hub in Dubai."

Since 2004 the airline's Glasgow service has carried just under 2 million passengers and over 46 million kilos of cargo to and from the Middle East and beyond.

Emirates is already a significant supporter of high profile sport in the UK and internationally with a prestigious portfolio which includes the FIFA World Cup, the 2012 Ryder Cup, the International Cricket Council and Arsenal Football Club at Emirates Stadium, as well as the Emirates Airline Glasgow Rugby Sevens.

The partnership with Glasgow 2014 will see the airline play a key role in the Queen’s Baton Relay, the unique prelude to the Commonwealth Games during which a message of goodwill from Her Majesty The Queen is taken through the 71 Nations and Territories which will be sending athletes to compete in Glasgow. 

Emirates recently secured naming rights to Emirates Arena, Glasgow’s latest world-class sporting facility. Home to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Emirates Arena will host Glasgow 2014’s Track-Cycling and Badminton events.