For most of the last 2 weeks I've been a Clydesider (volunteer) working at the triathlon, marathon & road cycling events at Glasgow 2014. This has been an excellent experience and for the most part very enjoyable. The journey began 18 months ago with an online application - then months of endless waiting. Eventually a high-intensity (a lot like speed dating) interview and an appointment as a Field of Play Team Member for the Triathlon & some of the Games' endurance events.
The Commonwealth Games is one of several global sporting competitions. Most are based on a shared geography eg. Asian Games, All-Africa Games or Pan-American Games. But the Commonwealth Games owe more to a shared set of values as defined in the Charter of the Commonwealth (
here).
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| Flag Of The Commonwealth |
I think you get a sense of the possible on-going importance of the Commonwealth if you consider that Mozambique was accepted as member in 1995. Mozambique was a former Portuguese colony. So why might they want to join or why would other members permit them to be admitted to the Commonwealth ?
"Mozambique was admitted as a unique case because of its close relationship with the Commonwealth since its independence in 1975, and the association's recognition that during that period, despite a heavy cost to its own economy, Mozambique had supported the Commonwealth's stand against white minority rule in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa."
So while plenty of Canadians, Aussies and Kiwi's might wonder what the relevancy of Commonwealth means in their respective worlds I think they are looking from the wrong end of the question. The shared values declared in the Commonwealth Charter means that New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, India, Australia etc. have the potential to show responsibility, leadership and positive influence in a wider world of 2 billion people - and especially in those parts of the world that need it most (Rwanda, Bangladesh etc). The Commonwealth is not just simply about the geography of where you happen to be rather it's far more about what you fundamentally believe is essential to be human and to live a fulfilled existence.
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| From the Charter of the Commonwealth |
You might be interested to note that the inaugural 1930 Games in Hamilton, Ontario were actually a Canadian creation (not UK and certainly not England) – in part established as a reaction to Canada's shoddy treatment by the USA and Germany at the Amsterdam 1928 Olympics. These “Empire Games” were driven by Melville Marks Robinson and were designed from the outset to be different in tone and style from the Olympics. They should be
“sport for sports sake, devoid of petty jealousies and sectional prejudices” and “The event will be designed on an Olympic model, but these Games will be very different. They should be merrier and less stern, and will substitute the stimulus of a novel adventure for the pressure of international rivalry.” It was this inclusive, sporting and fun motivation that earned the Commonwealth Games the epithet "The Friendly Games".
Don't think of the Commonwealth Games as a poor relation of the Olympics either - To quote the Guardian website :
"Comparisons between Glasgow 2014 and London 2012, however, are arguably an exercise in futility. The Olympic Games is unparalleled in its stature and any attempt to replicate the scenes of two years ago in the English capital would undermine what is expected to be a significant event in its own right. These Games will seek their own identity and, although Sir Chris Hoy – the six-time Olympic champion who has been honoured by the Glasgow velodrome being built in his name – spoke of an “afterglow” effect from London, he also said the Commonwealth's “in many ways can be better for a sports fan”.
It was actually those first Empire Games in Hamilton, Ontario that gave the Olympics the idea to use a podium ceremony which only appeared from 1932. Indeed the IOC adopted the idea of housing competitors in an athletes’ village and the recruitment of volunteers to help with the efficient day-to-day running of the Games by what they first observed at Hamilton. Glasgow's £575M Games will cost 1/8th of the Olympics - will feature more than 4,500 athletes from 71 nations and territories competing in 17 events over the 11 days.
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| My Mum - before the iPad was spotted ! |
So after several training, orientation & uniform fitting events my Games experience proper began with free tickets for the opening night dress rehearsal which was made very special by being shared with my Mum. The rain & thunder stopped at exactly the right moment and the evening was made hilarious by the fairly self-conscious stand-ins representing HM the Queen, HRH Prince Philip and other dignitaries. Maybe the stand-in for Rod Stewart was also not such a bad thing. But the event was fun and inspiring with the massive graphics screen (biggest ever seen in Europe) and the outstanding choreography - and of course those dogs !
My venue & home for 5 days became Strathclyde Park and after a fairly disorganized start I landed on my feet working for Niamh - a smart, accomplished and deeply competent lady from Ballycastle Co. Antrim. Who'd have thought it. Niamh was a superb manager, seconded from British Triathlon for the event and knew exactly what she wanted and what standards she expected. The Transition team members were a great bunch with Terry, Tim, David, James, Jim & the unstoppable Struan. Transition is at the heart of every triathlon, it features the winning chute and is the focal point for press & medical support.
So this was how my 8 days shaped up ...
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| My Walk to Work |
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| WorkForce Rest Area - brimming with endless shortbread and awful coffee |
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| Setting Up for Day 1 - Women's Triathlon was the 1st Medal of the games. All eyes on the Sport |
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| "Pods" out, measured and checked - but "Glasgow" not dry and someone just walked through it ! |
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| Course Familarization - that's Andrea Hewitt |
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| Team Transition - the last time we saw that electrical cable ! |
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| Team Transition : Niamh, Terry, Tim, James, David, Struan, Jim |
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| Team Australia |
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| Kiwis & Coach |
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| 2 Brownlees at Bike Check In |
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| Team Wales Ladies on Familiarization |
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| We've all gone - bet they're still there. |
Ok so you can see (I hope) why the Commonwealth politically can be an important force for good in the world and there's certainly a responsibility on the more affluent and longest democratic (progressive ?) nations : UK, NZ, Canada, Austrialia to provide leadership. But what about the games themselves ? If the Olympics is pre-eminent then whats the point ? There's plenty : here's 5.
1. Accessibility of People to World Class International Sport. If you're in Botswana, Malta, Sri Lanka or Fiji which is easier the Olympic qualification standard or a Commonwealth Games place ? Consider Bangladesh : 160M people, 8th largest population in the world. No Bangladeshi competitor has ever qualified for the Olympics; the country sends representatives to the Olympic Games only thanks to the wildcard process. In fact Bangladesh is the most populous country in the world
never to have won an Olympic medal. They have, however, won 5 Commonwealth Games medals. The Commonwealth Games provide a platform for nations and individuals in a way that is impossible for the Olympics. If you view the last 2 finishers from Glasgow's individual mens's triathlon : the triathlete from Gibralter (Chris Walker) was 47 – the joy he had at not being lapped (and therefore excluded from the race) was exquisite and the crowd were passionately willing him on – ok his 2h10m time was 22m behind Alistair Brownlee but at 47 its still a highly creditable performance. The final men's finisher was the opposite extreme. Harry Speers from Northern Ireland made 2:12 but he's just 18. What a platform these Games have been for him ? Will his experience raise the profile of triathlon in Northern Ireland ? The UK incidence of heart failure is highest in Northern Ireland for both men and women so God knows they need more excercize – will Harry Speers be an accessible role model for his peer group ? I think so – in a far more realistic way than an Alistair Brownlee. Remember 50%+ of the 2 billion Commonwealth is under 25. Equally Chris Walker's performance & attitude gives hope to ageing athlete. So in the race there was a world class performance (Alister Brownless) –
but more importantly there was actually something for everyone in that race.
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| Harry Speers - 27th in Glasgow 2014 - he's 18. |
2. Innovation. The ground-breaking campaign to raise money for UNICEF (children) was a perfect demonstration of what is so wonderful about the Commonwealth Games. A billion-strong global audience saw a host of celebrities – including Ewan McGregor - promote the cause to help disadvantaged kids across the globe. Brits raised an amazing £3.5million within 24 hours of the opening ceremony by texting a number to donate £5.That impressive tally will soar when donations from the rest of the Commonwealth are added in. In Glasgow 2014 the para-events take place alongside their able-bodied counterparts – not in a special event separated in time. Glasgow will see 22 para-events : a new Games record (which includes track cycling). The Games are creative : the new mixed team triathlon relay is being tried on it's biggest ever world stage. It won't make Rio it did make Glasgow (and how !) : Alistair Brownlee told BBC1 the mixed relay event was "fantastic" and a great way of testing athletes' "strengths and weaknesses". Vikky Holland, asked if she thought the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should consider including it on the Olympic programme, said:
" I really hope so. Just look at the atmosphere it generates. "The lead changes so often. It's a great spectator event. Guys and girls in the same race - it's unique.”
3. Inspiration. You're the Mauritian mixed triathlon relay team heading home. You finished last in the event. But the Glasgow crowd went wild & gave a standing ovation as Boris de Chazal came in 11 minutes 37 seconds behind a winning England. You also made BBC's Glasgow2014 Moment of the Day
(here) for your great attitude. You were professional and you had a world-class platform for that moment. Was that failure ? Hardly. You had an amazing opportunity to see up close and personal what the very best in the world look like. How they prepared, trained and performed. You had a glimpse of what might be possible – for you, your coach and your home governing body. To be in the same race as a Nicky Samuels or Aileen Reid with their gutsy cycle performances which pulled them both back into contention (for a time anyway) is a fantastic learning experience. Maybe, like Northern Ireland, you were instrumental in bringing your team into second place – albeit too briefly – but it was there and that success can be built upon. The opportunity gave you a way to measure your progress and how far you need to proceed. You also had a clear reminder from the crowd of what's genuinely important in sport – reaching in, digging deep and doing your very best. All across the world you showed it was possible. That's what's happening in Scotland ... and I hope across the Commonwealth.
4. What it does for the volunteers. 50,811 people from across the UK and beyond applied for up 15,000 posts as unpaid volunteers with Glasgow 2014. Their roles ranged from field of play, spectator services, press operations and anti-doping, to protocol and transport. They are the friendly faces of the Games, the first point of contact for many athletes, spectators and visitors. Each carried out a minimum of eight shifts over a three-week period. For me, working on field of play Transition Area has given access to the world's leading triathletes. TV isn't real life and edited glossy shows don't remotely tell the full picture. I've seen 1st hand the emotion of the female athletes finishing, the reactions from athletes when coaches have pulled them from the event, their preparation and professionalism. The astonishing testosterone of some southern hemisphere national coaches, how meticulous the technical officials were in securing the best possible field of play and experience for the athletes. The infinite and unfailingly positive attitude of the Canadians and how some athletes were clearly mentally beaten long before the swim start.
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| Kirsten Sweetland - Silver Medal @ Glasgow 2014. From Victoria, BC. |
The joy of Alistir Brownlee as he sets off on the bike convinces you he was born for this sport and it's inspirational. The very transparent behaviour in the mixed relay tag box shows how much these guys care about what they do.
We had a superb team leader from Co Antrim, Northern Ireland who set the tone on how we prepared – every hoarding, every bike rack, every line measured and remeasured. If it could be brushed it was brushed and it looked fabulous. What will we take back to our clubs from this ? We have a world class sport with fantastic grounded athletes that love what they do. We have hopefully made a city proud and increased it's self confidence. We have loads of ideas on how to improve our club events and we have met new people with whom to exchange those ideas. The Commonwealth Games showed me we can be proud of the athletes in our sport (Jody Stimpson is simply amazing), of the sport itself and of the City of Glasgow in staging this event for the world.
5. What it does for the host country. The money matters and the sums are life changing for generations. More than 5,000 jobs and apprenticeships have been created directly from the Games; £200m worth of contracts have been awarded to Glasgow firms; £198m invested in new or improved sports facilities; £700m in Games-related transport infrastructure. Glasgow has newly built facilities : Commonwealth Arena & The Chris Hoy Velodrome. There are over 50 national Legacy 2014 programmes. There is massive redevelopment in the Clyde Gateway – part of which includes the Athletes' Village. After the athletes and officials leave the Village will be transformed into an East End residential neighbourhood - comprising more than 1,440 houses (apartments, terraced, semi-detached and detached.) Over 1,100 will be available to buy, 300 provided as social rented housing, plus 120-bed elderly care home. The Games have helped Scotland to secure 37 high-profile national and international events, with an estimated economic impact of £14m. 150 Community Sport Hubs will be created across Scotland by 2016. Over 250,000 school pupils are benefiting from Game On Scotland, the official education programme for the Games. There are 150 Young Scot Youth Legacy Ambassadors. There are 37,500 opportunities for people to make a positive change in their lives through Street Soccer Scotland. There are 109 Cultural Programme projects with links to 26 Commonwealth countries. Over 200 projects and 800 events as part of the Cultural Programme. £5.5m has been awarded by the BIG Lottery Fund to help communities get more active. The Active Places Fund has already supported over 100 projects, helping build and improve community facilities. More than 750 teachers have been trained to support disabled young people in P.E. Scottish companies have won 69% of contracts associated with the Games. The £5M Young Persons’ Fund will provide 2,500 young people with work experience. And for me personally ? From the Games Legacy I personally have received TriathlonScotland funding to help with substance to complete my Level 2 Coaching Cert.
So without doubt the Commonwealth Games are an opportunity to be grasped firmly with both hands. It's up to the Nations of the Commonwealth to make the Charter a political reality – in this they could take a lead from the organizers, technical officials, athletes and volunteers in Glasgow2014 who fully embraced the ethos of Humanity, Equality & Destiny.
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| The day before race day - essential finish line technical checks required |
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| Presentation Rehearsals - the Protocol lady (Australian) was amazing and soooo positive. |
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| Presentation Rehearsals : This was supposed to be the women's race - testosterone drugs check alert ! |
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The Perfect Podium at Rehearsal : Gold to Scotland, Silver to Northern Ireland and a surprise Bronze to the Falklands
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| Race Day : The Triathlon Lap Bell makes its appearance. |
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| The finish line dressed and ready for action. Transition looks immaculate. |
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| Beautiful morning on Race Day - note the large mobile screen. |
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| Male Race - Athletes await the call to the swim start. |
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| Female Race : Sarah Brault (Can) X & Emma Jackson (Aus)during the Mixed Team Relay |
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| Individual Female race - Kristen Sweetland (Can) just in front of Jody Stimpson (Eng) with Vikky Holland (Eng), Emma Jackson (Aus) & Emma Hewitt (NZ) |
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| Female Race winner : Jody Stimpson (Eng) |
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| This photo got me into a bit of trouble - but at this moment Northern Ireland were in second place to Canada during the Team Mixed relay - thats Johnny Brownlee back at the mount line ! |
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| Alister and Jonathan - leading from the front in the individual male race. A brave Scot clinging on. |
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| Jonathan Brownlee - on the second lap of the run. |
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| Victorious : Gold and Silver for Team England. No sign of the Falkland Islands |
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| The Technical Officials ahead of the final day. |
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| 05.30h : It's Marathon Day ! Sign-In @ Commonwealth House |
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| Selfie on the loneliest stretch of the marathon course. |
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| Michael Shelly takes the Commonwealth Gold for Australia |
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| Susan Partridge from Argyll - in the chase pack. |
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| Bronze medalist Jess Tengrove of Australia |
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| Kenyan Gold & Silver. Flomena Cheyech Daniel and Caroline Kilel celebrate. |
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| Between the Marathon and the Cycle Road Races it's back to Argyll and back to work. Tilly's elbow surgery is clearly a complete success. |
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| 6am at Commonwealth House. It's Cycle Time Trial Day. |
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| Sector 218 - about as far west as you can go. Where the worst Vietnam movie you've seen meets Dad's Army. |
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| Women's Time Trial |
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| Scot David Miller - the Delhi Winner - leaving last in "pole position" but could not repeat his sucess from 2010 |
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| Final Day of the Games - Back at Commonwealth House for 6am - Party Mood already. Its Road Race day. |
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| The Sectors Assemble - waiting for the transport |
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| Sector 3 - Ready for Action (and the driest we were going to be) |
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| 2 Surprize and welcome Visitors at Rottenrow - Dylan loving the Whistle and Atticus not too sure ! |
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| Spectacular ... |
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| but it was very very very wet : Ed Veal of Canada |
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After a thrilling race Wales Geraint Thomas takes the Gold from New Zealand (Silver) and England (Bronze)
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So the best bits for me ? Well, you don't often get the chance to support Team Northern Ireland so check this out
HERE. Of course the Triathlon's were outstanding. But I guess the sporting moment was this one ...
which you can check out
HERE.
So 17 Sports in 11 Days.
5 days for Triathlon,
8 Days for Glasgow
A lifetime of memories for me.
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