Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games - Games for Scotland Programme to Countdown to Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Games for Scotland Programme to Countdown to Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

EventScotland and the Scottish Government today announced the launch of the 2011 Games for Scotland event programme, designed to engage communities throughout Scotland in the countdown to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Games for Scotland will inspire Scots across the country by encouraging and motivating them to take part in events which celebrate Scotland’s culture, heritage and role as host of the next Commonwealth Games. The 2011 programme will give participants the opportunity to try their hands at a range of Commonwealth Games-themed sports and cultural activities and build on the success of last year’s events by keeping dance as a focus for the events.

Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, was joined by Rhona Simpson, Scotland’s most capped Hockey player, and Hong Kong Connection and Asian Games international Michele Field at the 15th Golden Oldies World Hockey Festival at Inverleith Park in Edinburgh, to celebrate the launch of the forthcoming 2011 Games for Scotland event programme.

Michele, Rhona and Ms Robison encouraged people across Scotland to get involved in the celebrations taking place around the country and participate in sports which, like hockey, will feature as part of the sport competition programme in Glasgow 2014.

Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, said:

“It’s little more than three years until the start of the Commonwealth Games. Now more than ever in the countdown to 2014 it’s important that we involve local people and communities from across Scotland in the excitement of the Games.

"Hosting the Games is not only about putting on a spectacular sporting extravaganza but also about leaving a lasting legacy for the people of Scotland and the Scottish Government will shortly launch a new Games Legacy web portal which will allow the public to access all legacy activity happening across the country.

“The Games for Scotland programme will form a key strand of this and is a perfect platform for bringing the community together. I would encourage everyone to come along, have fun and play their part.”

This year’s events will take place between 23rd July; the date which marks the 3 year countdown until the opening of the Games and 27th October; the date which signifies 1,000 days to go. The 2011 event programme builds on the momentum created by last year’s Games for Scotland programme which saw all 32 of Scotland’s Local Authority areas participate in celebrations to coincide with the Delhi Handover Ceremony - the moment when Glasgow became the official host of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The first events to be announced as part of the Games for Scotland programme are;
• Merchant City Festival, sports programme, Glasgow 23-24 July
• North Ayrshire Community Games, Saltcoats 25-27 August
• Dundee Flower & Food Festival, Celebration of Dance, 2 September Other events taking place across Scotland in September and October will be announced in the coming weeks.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, said:

“These three events taking place in Glasgow, North Ayrshire and Dundee, combined with the events to be announced later this month, will inspire Scots to get involved in the celebrations and take pride in our role as host of the next Commonwealth Games. The Games for Scotland programme will provide a tangible way for Scots to get active, sample a range of participatory dance and sport activities and gain inspiration as we look toward 2014.

“We are delighted to be delivering the programme on behalf of the Scottish Government and look forward to working with local authorities to ensure that the entire Scottish population has an opportunity to take part in the celebrations”.

The 2011 Games for Scotland programme is being delivered by EventScotland as part the Scottish Government's Commonwealth Games Legacy Plan - A Games Legacy for Scotland. It will be one of a number of initiatives in the lead up to Glasgow 2014 which bring together people of all ages and backgrounds developing healthier communities and a healthy nation ensuring the creation of a lasting legacy for the whole of Scotland.

Glasgow 2014 Acting Chief Executive, David Grevemberg, added:

“The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games belong to the people of Glasgow and of Scotland so it’s fantastic that so many will be engaged by the Games for Scotland initiative.

“Glasgow 2014 will be the biggest sporting and cultural event ever to be hosted in this country, so it’s extremely encouraging to see such projects make a difference in every corner of Scotland, encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate in the spirit of the Commonwealth”.

NOTES TO EDITORS
• Games for Scotland is a programme of events designed to inspire, motivate, engage and engender pride in the people of Scotland in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
• Games for Scotland is a programme of events inspired by the 17 Commonwealth Games sports, dance and the Commonwealth Games concept itself. Games for Scotland events will take place from 23rd July - marking 3 years to go until the 2014 Commonwealth Games - and will end on the 27th October marking 1,000 days to go.
• Games for Scotland celebrates Scotland’s place in the commonwealth and on the global stage.
•‘Get involved in the countdown to our games!’ For further information on Games for Scotland go to: www.eventscotland.org/gamesforscotland for further information on Glasgow 2014 go to www.glasgow2014.com
• EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors.
• Games for Scotland is a programme of events managed by EventScotland as part of Scottish Government’s Games Legacy for Scotland activity.
• The Games Legacy Plan was officially launched on 1st September 2009 and sets out how the Scottish Government aims to deliver a lasting legacy from Glasgow 2014 and other major events, such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Ryder Cup in 2014. The Games Legacy Plan can be downloaded from: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCultureSport/Sport/MajorEvents/Glasgow-2014/Commonwealth-games.

2011 GAMES FOR SCOTLAND EVENTS

Please note:

A number of events are still in development, EventScotland is working with local authorities to establish celebrations across Scotland. For further information on these events go to www.eventscotland.org/gamesforscotland