With less than 50 days to go and organisers confident of delivering the greatest ever Games, the nationwide focus on the Games’ wider benefits includes a Legacy 2014 Celebration Event at the Murrayfield Stadium (10 June).
150 people from across Scotland will join Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games Shona Robison; Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive David Grevemberg; Michael Cavanagh, Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman; and Glasgow City Council’s Councillor Archie Graham to celebrate the achievements of over 50 national Legacy programmes, plus the input from all local authorities in creating a sustainable legacy Scotland wide.
Compered by cyclist and broadcaster Mark Beaumont, the event will include a performance of the ‘Let The Games Begin’, the Glasgow Games’ single by East 40 benefitting one of the Games’ official charity partners, UNICEF.
Legacy Week is a partnership between the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow 2014, ahead of the Queen’s Baton Relay arriving in Scotland on 14 June.
Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison, said: “The Scottish Government and partners are committed to delivering a positive and lasting legacy from hosting the Games.
“This Legacy Week is another opportunity to promote the successful work which is well underway across the country, ensuring that Glasgow 2014 is about much more than 11 days of scintillating sport, but a catalyst for regeneration and economic growth.
“Our ambition is now to turn a good legacy into a great legacy, securing Scotland’s reputation worldwide as one of the frontrunners in delivering nationwide benefits from hosting a major sporting event.”
David Grevemberg, Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive, said: “Glasgow 2014 and its Games Partners, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government, firmly believe that legacy doesn’t just happen to you, it happens by you getting involved and making things happen.
“The legacy of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is already apparent and many people are benefitting from the Games by participating in a broad range of successful projects, some of which will be highlighted during this coming week.
“Our vision is to create a world-class stage for the elite athletes of the Commonwealth, generate enormous pride in Glasgow and Scotland, and leave a lasting legacy.”
Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said: “We are just a few weeks away from hosting the biggest sporting event ever to be held in Scotland.
“Legacy Week is a great opportunity for people to find out about the work we’re doing across the city to make sure there is a lasting benefit from the Games.
“Glasgow’s preparations for the Games have already left the city better off economically, environmentally and socially.
“Many of our legacy ambitions have already been delivered such as jobs, apprenticeship and training places for our young people through the council’s ground-breaking £50 million Glasgow Guarantee.
“All our venues have been built, opened and in use well in advance of the Games.
“We want to make sure no one is left behind and Legacy Week is an ideal opportunity to highlight what communities and groups are doing to make sure they can make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Mike Hooper, CEO, Commonwealth Games Federation, said: “The Commonwealth Games Federation is pleased to note the success of the Games Partners to date in ensuring a lasting legacy from Glasgow 2014.
“Indeed the CGF’s Co-ordination Commission has formally congratulated those involved and called it a ‘blueprint for future Games’ in its report on progress towards delivering an outstanding Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.”
There are over 50 Legacy 2014 national programmes delivered by national partners and more than 70 supporting Legacy 2014 projects in place across Scotland, generating jobs and training opportunities, investing in new or upgraded community facilities, helping people to get more active, and inspiring fun learning opportunities and new global connections.
Glasgow City Council has its own legacy plan and suite of programmes to deliver a sustainable legacy at Glasgow level.
Community Sport Hubs, Game On Scotland, the official education programme for the Games, and the PE Disability Inclusion Training Programme are among those national programmes highlighted during the Murrayfield celebration event. Speakers will include: Scottish Enterprise’s 2014 Director Linda Murray; the founder of Street Soccer Scotland, David Duke; Clyde Gateway CEO, Ian Manson; and Young Scot Youth Legacy Ambassadors.
There are many ways in which people can still get involved in the legacy of the Games. Organisations can apply for Active Places Funding, Community Sport Hubs are available across the country, and people can take part in Games for Scotland and enjoy the events being hosted as part of the nationwide Culture 2014 programme.
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