Lewis-Francis first on the bus

20 May 2002

Kit races Mark Lewis Francis

Mark Lewis-Francis, the world’s fastest teenager and 100m medal prospect, will be the first athlete to board one of the 95 brand new state-of-the-art buses that will transport athletes, officials and the media to and from Commonwealth Games venues at a ceremony today.

The buses are part of an £11 million investment being made by UK transport operator First, an official partner to the Games.

This is a record number of buses provided to a sporting event of this kind and has meant a huge logistics exercise for the planning team at First. Commenting, Mick Coombes, Planning Manager with First said: “Our key objective is to provide this very special service for athletes, officials and the media without affecting our normal, day to day bus services. We’ve achieved this by asking bus drivers from our 27 bus companies across the UK to volunteer for the Games during what would normally be their holiday period. As a result over 140 drivers from the Greater Manchester region will be joined by over 130 drivers from as far afield as Penzance, Aberdeen and Swansea. Each driver will be receiving special training that will ensure they each know the routes they will be driving on.”

Francis Done, Chief Executive of Manchester 2002, added: “This is a superb fleet of buses that will ensure the athletes have a first class experience whilst in Manchester. First’s tremendous support will help us deliver a successful and memorable Games.”

Over the period of the Games the 95 specially liveried buses will operate over more than 50 different routes, carry over 9,000 athletes, officials and media, and serve 24 separate destinations. Placed end to end the buses would stretch for over 1,100 metres, that’s nearly four times round the athletics track at the City of Manchester Stadium.