This series of films captures the thoughts, journeys and emotions of the athletes Libby Clegg, Michael Jamieson, Jessica Ennis, Lizzie Armistead and others as a testimony of their endeavour, determination, discipline and persistence often against all the odds.
The films allow the audience to look behind the scenes to discover what drives these athletes to be the very best they can be.
Small testimonies of the greatness that lies dormant within every human being!
Game on Scotland is supporting youngsters across the globe as they explore learning inspired by the XX Commonwealth Games.
In New South Wales there is a real spotlight on Health and Wellbeing. 1st Oak Park Joey Scouts and ensuring youngsters start as they mean to go on by exploring why exercise and healthy diet are important. Knoxfield Primary, Melbourne continue with the Healthy theme, setting themselves a Healthy Eating challenge. They will also focus on the challenges of countries across the Commonwealth – both the challenges they face within individual countries as well as the challenge to enter a team of athletes to participate in Games events. Students in Monash Special Developmental School are playing the different Commonwealth sports and St Philip’s Community School are running a two week themed event which has a range of sporting events as well as crafts and afternoon tea – sounds lovely.
In Western Australia Year 1 students are learning about other cultures and developing a greater awareness of tolerance and understanding. By focusing on Commonwealth countries, students can begin to appreciate opportunities available across the world, how they themselves fit into this and how they can use this purposefully as they grow and learn.
In South Australia over 400 students in Risdon Park Primary are buddying up to compete in a Commonwealth Sporting extravaganza. Each class will also research and study a Commonwealth country and share their learning at an assembly. Over in Blackfriars Priory School, there has been an explosion of “Spud-letes”. We were intrigued by the Spud-letes (athletes made from potato). Students are busy creating their Spud-lete, putting together their profile, autobiography, vital statistics etc. Spud-lete’s will represent different Commonwealth countries across a range of events – “Spud-put”, “Spud-vault”. Students will then measure, record and display results alongside their Commonwealth Country statistics and information. Here at Education Scotland we can’t wait to see pictures of the Spud-letic Games, and we will share these with you!
As you might expect, schools in the Queensland area are beginning to get excited about the XX Commonwealth Games and the prospect of them being handed over to GOLD Coast Organising Committee in a few short weeks.
Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment are already exploring ways in which they can best support students to learn more about the culture, customs and people across the Commonwealth. Their eLearning platform Scootle is already filling up with resources, learning ideas and competitions all aimed at helping students embrace cultural studies of the Commonwealth and develop local community partnerships.
Musgrave Hill and Park Lake State Schools are already hard at work in digital design of a mascot that they hope will be photographed across the Commonwealth. They are keen to compare the view from their own school with those of others across the Commonwealth, discovering similarities and celebrating differences in lifestyle and location. Year 5 students in Bounty Boulevard State School have a 100 days of learning Diary Challenge using the Kids Journal App for iPad. Stories will be shared with buddies in the upper school as well as North Lakes elderly community – where it is hoped students will gain some interesting tales of days gone by. Up on the Sunshine Coast, Glasshouse Country Christian College are holding an Athletics Carnival showcasing a range of Commonwealth events. In preparation for this, students will keep a journal of their training efforts and accomplishments.
Finally, Year 4 students at Mudgeerabab Creek State School have been set a challenge to design a drink bottle suitable for an athlete to use. The bottle needs to be suitable for a range of sports with youngsters drawing on their scientific knowledge of both natural and processed materials in a bid to identify the best option for their bottle. Prototypes will be put to the test during Mudgeeraba Creek’s own Commonwealth Games event as students compete over a range of sporting events.
Wow! We are excited reading about all the interesting activities planned in Australia over the next few weeks and months in celebration of the Games. We are sure that this is the first rung on the exciting ladder leading up to the XXI Commonwealth Games 2018 in Queensland – now less than 3,800 days away!
Initiatives such as engineering, environment and educational projects delivering lasting benefits from Scotland hosting the Commonwealth Games will be celebrated during the second dedicated Legacy Week (9-13 June).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.
Join us on Tuesday, 26th of November (11am – 12noon) for the second of our Game on Scotland Technologies Glow meets. (Glow meet sign-up: http://bit.ly/gostechnologieslearningzone)
This session allows learners to:
– hear from the Queen’s Baton designer Will Mitchell (4cDesign) & share their own a baton design ideas
– find out more about the challenges of producing lawn bowls from Grant Heron Taylor bowls
– learn how they can get involved in the Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award from Angela Greene from Primary Engineers.
In order for your learners to get involved most effectively in this session why not:
– Set your class a baton design challenge
– Prepare a 2 minute pitch of your idea to Will Mitchell from 4cDesign (Dragons’ Den Style) on the day.
Please register for the glow meet before the 26th Nov. We will aim to have as many schools as possible involved in the challenge. For more information email Kirsty McFaul (DO Technologies) kirsty.mcfaul@educationscotland.gov.uk
Watch again!
If you missed last week’s excellent presentations from Will Mitchell and Adam Best (Queen’s Baton Relay Team, Glasgow 2014) you can watch this again here
The Commonwealth Class education pack is a flexible resource that can be used to support individual projects or joint curriculum work with a partner school.
For more information about opportunities and resources around the Commonwealth Class programme visit British Council Schools Online.
If you do not yet have a British Council Schools Online account we recommend that you register with them to gain access to other opportunities to develop the global dimension at your school including Connecting Classrooms, International School Award and Language Assistants.
The next BBC online debate will be held on Thursday 14 November to coincide with the Commonwealth Youth Forum 2013. The debate is a fantastic opportunity for your students to engage with their peers around the globe on the most vital challenges and opportunities facing young people today. You can contribute to the debate on the day by emailing comments to the BBC team at commonwealthclass@bbc.co.uk.
And finally, British Council are offering grants of £250 for schools to hold mini launch events on their site for other schools in their area. Events do not have to take any predetermined format but should be 2 hours long and schools should involve at least 10 teachers representing different schools in their area. The launch should be based on the script provided in the Commonwealth Class Education Pack. If you would like to hold a launch event please download and complete the Commonwealth_Class_Launch_Grant_Application and return to ryan.dunn@britishcouncil.org.
In November two exciting Glow Meets around Technologies’ will focus on the Queen’s Baton and its design.
Join us on Tuesday the 5th of November (4 – 4.45pm) to learn more about how William Mitchell and his design team at 4cDesign effectively utilised science, technology, engineering, maths, art and design skills to create the Queen’s baton and how you and your learners can be involved on the 26th November (11am – 12 noon) by considering your own baton design for your school or centre.
Register for the CPD session here or simply join us on the day.
For more information on all Glow Meets please visit the relevant page on Game On Scotland .
Find more information about the Queen’s Baton Relay, its design and nominating batonbearers here.
UNICEF, the CGF and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have announced a unique collaboration that seeks to touch the lives of children in Scotland and in Commonwealth countries across the world.
This partnership brings together UNICEF, the world’s leading organisation for children, with the biggest sporting and cultural event ever to take place in Scotland, with the aim of inspiring and enabling children to be the best they can be.
The partnership was unveiled last week by the first Olympic female boxing gold medallist, Nicola Adams, at Swinton Primary School in the east end of Glasgow – a Rights Respecting School that is supported by the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) and an example of grass roots level activity in Scotland.
The event was hosted by pupils who demonstrated their hopes for a better future for children in song, poetry and pledges before asking Nicola, Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive David Grevemberg, UNICEF UK Executive Director David Bull and CGF’s Bruce Robertson, to add their opinions to the wall.
Ewan McGregor and David Beckham have also given their backing to plans to put children at the heart of Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy. The Scottish Hollywood star and England footballer are ambassadors for United Nations children’s charity Unicef . Actor McGregor, who is from Perthshire, said the link-up “opens the door to helping transform children’s lives”.
David Grevemberg, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014 said:
“The children of Swinton Primary in Glasgow have a powerful message for children throughout Scotland and across the Commonwealth. Put simply, they want to be the best they can be. I am thrilled that through our new and bold partnership with UNICEF, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games aims to help them and hundreds and thousands of other children achieve that.
David Bull, UNICEF UK Executive Director, said:
“The Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow in 2014 provides us with a unique opportunity to harness the immense power of sport and culture for the best possible outcome – to improve the lives of children in Scotland and across the Commonwealth.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Glasgow 2014 and with the CGF, and look forward to making history together.“
Mike Hooper, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said:
“We are very excited with this new partnership with UNICEF and Glasgow 2014. The Commonwealth Games movement embraces all 71 nations and territories across the Commonwealth and UNICEF works in a great many of these, helping children to have healthy, happy futures by ensuring they have access to education, healthcare and other practical assistance that will support their future development.”
Olympic boxing champion, Gold Medallist, Nicola Adam, said:
“I am absolutely delighted to support this partnership and be part of the event this morning. It was great to meet the children and hear about their aspirations and what they need to be the best they can be. This is a fantastic collaboration which will reach out to every child in Scotland and much further afield.
“I believe that every child has the right to reach their full potential and to be the best they can be and it was great to be able to tell the children my story and how I fulfilled my own potential. Hopefully there will be some inspirational messages they can take from that but I know I have definitely been inspired by the young people I have met here today.”
Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said:
“UNICEF improves the lives of millions of children in Scotland and around the world, and this is a groundbreaking partnership that will reach far and wide. Physical activity and sport are a powerful force for good and the Games will help to inspire children to fulfill their potential and, through this partnership, give children around the Commonwealth a better future.”
Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said:
“The power to inspire young people in Glasgow, Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth will be one of the great legacies of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Education and access to other opportunities can transform the lives of young people, giving them the chance to reach their potential, and I would like to wish this fantastic partnership every success.”
UNICEF reaches children in Commonwealth countries through its global network of country offices and National Committees working to promote the rights of every child to health care, water, nutrition, education and protection with a focus on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. In Scotland, UNICEF UK has child rights education campaigns for children in schools, health settings and local government.
The partnership, with the CGF and Glasgow 2014 aims to raise funds for UNICEF’s work in Commonwealth countries around the world.
