Category Archives: Culture 2014

Athletes’ thank-you to young artists from Wick

This is a moving story which we have picked up from the John O’Groats Journal and Caithness Courier stands synonymous for all those inspirational memories that the Commonwealth Games have created and will live on in the hearts, minds and diaries of young people across Scotland.
You must read to the end!

“A NUMBER of pupils from Hillhead Primary in Wick have returned to school after the summer break to receive postcards from athletes and coaches who participated in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The school participated in the Game On Scotland athletes’ village art competition where pupil artwork was produced to decorate the bedrooms of the athletes and team members who attended the games.

Each piece of work was accompanied by a stamped, addressed postcard and the school had produced special postcards which showed the pupil with their work.

From the 12 pupils who submitted pictures, the school received seven replies. Beverley Jones, a para long jump medallist, and Carys Parry, a Welsh hammer thrower, wrote back to Primary 7 pupil James Thain and Primary 3 pupil Milissa Keenan.

The English gymnastic team responded well to the initiative. Primary 7 pupils Tyler Orbell, Kevin Plowman and Emma Hamilton received cards back from the team manager, Mike Weinstock, and coach Liz Kincaid who said: “Hi Emma, thank you for your gymnastics picture. I am afraid you didn’t get a famous gymnast but the team England coach… I love the picture.”

England’s double gold gymnastic medallist Becky Downie wrote back to Primary 7 pupil Joshua Frain saying: “Thank you so much for the lovely picture and making me smile when I first entered my room.”

The English gymnastic star Kristian Thomas, who won a gold and two silver medals, sent a postcard to Primary 3 pupil Eilidh Forbes which said: “Thanks for the great drawing. It looked brilliant on my wall above my bed.” He also e-mailed a photograph of himself holding Eilidh’s picture to the school.

In the accompanying note he wrote, “Just want to say a big thank you to Eilidh Forbes for the fantastic drawing. It was displayed in my room at the Commonwealth Games and definitely encouraged me to go win my medals!”

This has special relevance for Eilidh as along with her mum, dad, brother Calum and sister Lena she was a spectator at the gymnastics events in Glasgow when Thomas won his two silver medals. At the time she was completely unaware that her picture hung in the athlete’s bedroom.”

spotlight on 990

On your marks.....
Andergrove State School, Queensland Australia were the 990th school to share their Commonwealth Story by registering their challenge with Game On Scotland. Judy Corbett shared with us how her prep class of 5 year olds are fascinated to know that whilst they were sleeping, folks here in Scotland were wide awake and athletes were competing in the myriad of sports involved in the games.

With a number of weeks to go until the end of their school term, Andergrove youngsters are engaged in a good natured battle to collect stickers in their own bid for Gold. To gain a sticker, youngsters have to overcome a number of challenges including a series of races and learning activities. Clyde has featured heavily in activities, especially in science activities where the children are learning about living things.

Andergrove were delighted to discover that they were 990…..now the race is on for the big 1,000 – watch this space!

News update: Glasgow 2014

Céilidh Còmhla
Tonight (Thursday 3rd July), 6pm – 8pm
Barras Art and Design, 54 Calton Entry, Glasgow, G40 2SB
FREE

Gather with Scotland’s refugee communities to re-imagine the traditional Scottish Céilidh and discover what ‘welcome’ means in Scotland today, with music, dance and song. Please see attached flyer for more details.

To reserve your place please contact suzi.simpson@scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk  / 0141 223 7939

Dance opportunity for young people in the North East

Aberdeen International Youth Festival are looking to recruit young people from across the North-East, with varying levels of experience, who will work with internationally renowned choreographer and community dance leader Royston Maldoom, former Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre Tamara McLorg, and selected Scottish dance artists. You will then work intensively for a fortnight to create a new dance piece and perform at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen. You’ll also be part of a commissioned documentary film.
Must be available on July 7 to 11, and July 14 to 20, 2014. Performances are on 20 July at 5pm and 7.30pm.
The deadline to sign up is today (Thursday 3 July). .

The Glasgow Gurdwara – Community Celebrations

The Glasgow Gurdwara, Scotland’s premier Sikh centre, welcomes you to be a part of their Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games programme running in July. Please see invite attached for more details.Invitation Glasgow Sikh Community Welcomes Commonwealth Family

Assistive Technology

Glasgow 2014 aspires to make the XX Commonwealth Games experience as accessible and inclusive as possible. To help achieve this, various forms of assistive technology will be provided across many venues, including audio description commentary and hearing enhancement technology.

Find out what is available at each venue and how to book here.

The Queen’s Baton Relay

Residents of Moray will today, Thursday 3 July, welcome the Queen’s Baton as it travels through the local authority during its journey across the length and breadth of Scotland, with a range of extraordinary batonbearers preparing to take part in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games’ Queen’s Baton Relay.

The Queen’s Baton will begin its journey through Moray in Buckie, and will travel across the full expanse of the local authority, passing through towns and villages including Cullen, Fochabers, Lossiemouth, Kinloss, Forres and Elgin. Tomorrow the baton will travel through Perth & Kinross, starting with a free community Breakfast in Rothes.

Find out where you can join in here.

The Digital Commonwealth Project

The ambition of the Digital Commonwealth project is to enhance the capacity of individuals and groups to use freely available mobile digital (and social) media tools and techniques to ensure their voices are heard in a saturated (and often commercially) motivated media landscape. The Digital Commonwealth team have been busy reporting on events around the Queen’s Baton Relay and will be doing some more work with communities throughout Scotland.

Find out more and visit the website here.

Special £10.00 ticket offer!

Glasgow’s Hampden Park welcomes 47 Olympic, Paralympic and World Champions this weekend for the prestigious IAAF Diamond League event, bringing together the best athletic field ever seen in Scotland. The event will guarantee to get your heart racing with show-stopping performances on the track and field.

As a Glasgow 2014 supporter you can take advantage of a fantastic £10.00 ticket offer! Watch the double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah return to the track along with the likes of Christine Ohuruogu, Greg Rutherford, Yohan Blake, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, David Rudisha and home favourites Eilidh Child, Eilish McColgan, Lynsey Sharp, Laura Muir and Chris O’Hare.

Get your tickets now here

Dance Opportunity in North East

Get Scotland Dancing logoDance opportunity for young people in the North East: The Four Seasons

We’d like to make you aware of this fantastic and free opportunity; Aberdeen International Youth Festival are looking to recruit young people from across the North-East, with varying levels of experience, who will work with internationally renowned choreographer and community dance leader Royston Maldoom, former Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre Tamara McLorg, and selected Scottish dance artists. The project takes place in the summer holidays leading up to a performance on 20 July in Aberdeen.

To find out more information and to apply, click here. Deadline 3rd July 2014.

Global Diaspora Village: Celebrating diversity

From the 18 July to 3 August the Global Diaspora Village will open its doors to host a wide variety of cultural activities and celebrations. A colourful programme from musical, dance and theatrical performances to art workshops and live streaming of the ceremonies will provide something for everyone.

One highlight will provide the opportunity to enter the Guinness Book of Records in a attempt to bring together the largest Gospel Choir ever on 20 July.

The village will also provide a unique space to reflect and relax in the middle of the Commonwealth Games buzzle. 

The programme includes the following:

  1. 18th to 20th July: Conference for members, staff, volunteers and stakeholders
  2. 20th July: Attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Gospel Choir.
  3. 22nd July: Dinner & Awards Ceremony in honour of Diaspora Achievers. our aim is to celebrate the achievements of various people within the communities in Health, Education, Sports, Science and Innovation among others. You are invited to send us any nominations
  4. 23rd July: Carnival and Screening of Live Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2014.
  5. From the 24th of July to the 2nd of August, with the exception of the 26th and 27th of July, there will be exhibitions during the day, showcasing Country Cultures, Faiths, Trade, Tourism and Sport from 10am to 5pm. In the evening there will be live entertainment in the form of music, dance, theatrical performances among others.
  6. 3rd August: Family Fun Day with live screening of Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2014.

For more information please visit http://www.globaldiasporavillage.co.uk/

LEAP’s Pride House Glasgow

LEAP Sports are proud to be hosting a Pride House in Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games this summer. Located in 14 Albion Street in the heart of the Merchant City, Pride House will play host to a range of sports, cultural and arts events which share as a common theme our vision of breaking down the social and personal barriers which discourage LGBT people across the country from participating in Scottish sports.

Pride House Glasgow will run from 23rd July to 3rd August and will be a place for people to come together to talk, think, relax and have fun. We’re currently developing a great programme of events and working with designers to turn our premises into a unique and unforgettable venue.

The programme will include:
Plays, comedy, cultural commissions
– artists in residence
– Lucy Holmes-Elliot
– Gary McIntosh
Equalities events
– Commonwealth lives exhibition
– Primary education initiative
Sport and activity
-Thai-chi
-Parkour
-LGBT Sports Charter launch

For more information visit http://leapsports.org/pride-house

Green 2014 – Exhibition

The Environmental Legacy of the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow From 11 April 2014 


Main activity on Level 2, The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow.

Architecture and Design Scotland will host a seven-month programme of exhibitions, events and activities to get behind the scenes of the environmental legacy of the Commonwealth Games 2014.



 Green2014: The Environmental Legacy of the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from Architecture + Design Scotland on Vimeo.

 The rich schedule of events and exhibitions celebrates and showcases the range of environmental legacy projects being delivered by the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, The Games Organising Committee and partners throughout and beyond the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It demonstrates how these projects contribute to the success of the games and will act as a launch pad for a legacy that will benefit the citizens of Glasgow, the people of Scotland and visitors for years to come.
The programme at Architecture and Design Scotland will allow visitors to:

  • Understand Glasgow’s successful bid and what makes the approach taken unique
  • Find out about Glasgow’s rich sporting history and track record in hosting events
  • Reveal why Glasgow’s approach to delivering the Games will have a positive impact across the city
  • Explore the venues through photographic portraits and video.
  • Experience the sustainably developed athlete’s village
  • Be introduced to Glasgow’s 20 Greener Legacy projects and the National Legacy programme – ranging from renewable energy infrastructure to urban bee keeping to the children’s play ‘The Worm’, and from accessible Commonwealth Woods to active travel programmes and wide scale Regeneration projects.

This interactive exhibition will allow you to get involved in events, workshops and active architectural tours – the GREEN2014 programme will have something for everyone!

Follow our GREEN2014 updates on @ArcDesSco #green2014legacy

Commonwealth Connections – Vision Africa

Vision_Africa_small logoCommonwealth Connections is a project by UK registered charity, Vision Africa. The Commonwealth Games Federation says the aim of the Games is “Uniting the Commonwealth through sport.”

The 2014 Games provide a unique opportunity for children in various Commonwealth countries to learn about themselves, each other and the countries which will be competing in the event.

Vision Africa works with disadvantaged children and young people in Kenya. Through Commonwealth Connections, the charity aim to give children a forum to find out the similarities as well as the differences between children in Kenya and the UK.

Child with Scotland flagOne of the aims of the project is to teach children that despite living in different economic circumstances, their fellow children often share the same dreams, enjoy the same activities and even eat some of the same foods.

As well as celebrating diversity, we hope that engaging in Commonwealth Connections will help young people realise they have a lot in common too.

Vision Africa have pulled together a range of resources including videos, photographs, activity sheets and information which are free to download.

Why not keep up to date with progress by following on Twitter @VisionAfrica or Facebook

BBC School Radio programmes around the Commonwealth Games

BBC Scotland Leanring  has produce a number of school radio programmes which will focus on the Commonwealth Games over the coming weeks.
For First Level learners, Movement First takes in a tour of 5 Commonwealth countries through music, movement and imagination.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03g6hc9

 For second level learners, Making the Commonwealth looks at the preparations for the Games and looks at the maths behind the tournament?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01yb2sg

 Three more programmes in each series with new programme going out weekly on Thursday evening.

 Programmes can be streamed from the site or downloaded for up to 1 year after they’ve been broadcast.   We have a huge array of content for primary learners including features and radio dramas about Scottish History and Archaeology, the Referendum, Science, Myths and Legends, Bullying, as well as linkups with big stars like Nina and the Neurons and Dick and Dom!  It’s a great way to bring active listening to the classroom and there are lots of opportunities for everyone in the class to get involved.

 You can explore here:

(Early/1st Level) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03g64r6/episodes/player

(2nd Level) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03g64r7/episodes/player

Letter from (North) America

This is the first in a brief blog series highlighting how partners across the Commonwealth, and indeed the globe are using Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as a context for learning.

Coinciding with the award of our first Game On Scotland plaque on foreign soil, we couldn’t resist the temptation to shine a spotlight on one of our Canadian school partners.

For Major Ballachey Elementary School in Brantford Ontario, participation in projects like Game On Challenge and Commonwealth Class provides a fantastically rich opportunity to foster a greater depth global awareness for students. Staff see it as a key component in their drive to cultivate a collective sense of pride and accomplishment for all students.

There is a real passion to share meaningfully with peers across the globe. Major Ballachey students decided the best way to do this was to create a series of short videos documenting life in and around the school. These provided the gateway to further collaboration with other Commonwealth schools.

Commonwealth Class has provided an unprecedented opportunity for students to interact directly with their peers across the globe. Participation in debates across international borders is invaluable as students strive to understand that the richness of our multiple identities are fundamental to the Commonwealth’s principles and approaches.

The Commonwealth is close to the heart for students at Major Ballachey. Located in Brantford, which itself is close to Hamilton, recognised as the birthplace of the British Empire Games, now the Commonwealth Games. This ensures students have a keen eye on the forthcoming games, the athletes and of course the VIP Baton event at which they were awarded their Game On Scotland plaque by Cabinet Secretary, Ms Shona Robison.