There is a palpable level of excitement in the country ahead of the Commonwealth Games which will be held in Glasgow this year. Driving up the road over the weekend one was reminded by overhead sign boards long before reaching Glasgow of the need to plan ahead and potential difficulties in travelling as a result of the Games.
The online search engine Google has the theme of the games on its page, there is a lot of coverage in the media both online, in print and of course in audio and visual. Radio schedules have already been changed on some stations providing coverage already ahead of the Games which are due to get kick started with the opening ceremony tonight. In advertising it’s radio coverage the national broadcaster has even made a pledge to bring all the action of Scotland’s medal winning events live to the public. Colleagues have members of their family involved on a voluntary basis as ambassadors for Glasgow 2014 with some having already been helping out in the Athletes Village for the last two weeks.
Queen’s baton
The Queen’s baton left Buckingham Palace on 13 October 2013 and has made its journey across the breadth and length of the Commonwealth and has been moving across the host nation since the 14th of June, and finally arrived in Glasgow on Sunday. During its trip across the country one got a brief glimpse of the baton as a runner carried it up the road nearby. The total length of the journey is estimated at around 190 000 km and the baton relay culminates in it being received by the Queen at the Opening Ceremony.
Rugby Sevens
For rugby fans the excitement culminates early on in the Games with the Rugby Sevens tournament which will be held at Ibrox Stadium, the home of Rangers Football Club, this Saturday and Sunday (26 and 27 July). Sixteen teams will be taking part in the competition with the competition culminating in its forty fifth game late on Sunday in which two teams will be battling it out for the gold medal.
Reigning gold medallists New Zealand will be looking to making it five golds in a row at the Commonwealth Games and must be hot favourites to do so, especially considering their status as this years HSBC Sevens Series champions. New Zealand play against Canada in the opening match on Saturday morning in a Pool A match. Host nations Scotland have been putting a lot of resources into their sevens team for this event and have included some of their big name players from the fifteen man game, most notably Stuart Hogg, Richie Vernon and Mark Bennett. Unfortunately for them they have been drawn in what must be the strongest pool which includes the mighty New Zealand so it will be extremely tough for them to come out of that pool as the number one team. However, the organizers will be hoping that Scotland’s participation in the Sevens event goes on for as long as possible to keep the expected partisan crowd interest level high.
Saturday’s Sevens schedule
| Pool A | |
|---|---|
| 26 Jul 10:32 | New Zealand |
| Canada | |
| 26 Jul 12:50 | Canada |
| Barbados | |
| 26 Jul 13:56 | New Zealand |
| Scotland | |
| 26 Jul 18:02 | Scotland |
| Barbados | |
| 26 Jul 20:20 | New Zealand |
| Barbados | |
| 26 Jul 21:04 | Canada |
| Scotland | |
| Pool B | |
|---|---|
| 26 Jul 11:16 | Kenya |
| Cook Islands | |
| 26 Jul 12:22 | South Africa |
| Trinidad&Tobago | |
| 26 Jul 14:40 | Cook Islands |
| Trinidad&Tobago | |
| 26 Jul 19:30 | South Africa |
| Cook Islands | |
| 26 Jul 19:52 | Kenya |
| Trinidad&Tobago | |
| 26 Jul 22:10 | South Africa |
| Kenya | |
| Pool C | |
|---|---|
| 26 Jul 11:38 | Samoa |
| Papua N Guinea | |
| 26 Jul 12:00 | Wales |
| Malaysia | |
| 26 Jul 14:18 | Papua N Guinea |
| Malaysia | |
| 26 Jul 18:46 | Wales |
| Papua N Guinea | |
| 26 Jul 19:08 | Samoa |
| Malaysia | |
| 26 Jul 21:26 | Samoa |
| Wales | |
| Pool D | |
|---|---|
| 26 Jul 10:54 | Australia |
| Sri Lanka | |
| 26 Jul 13:12 | Australia |
| Uganda | |
| 26 Jul 13:34 | England |
| Sri Lanka | |
| 26 Jul 18:24 | England |
| Uganda | |
| 26 Jul 20:42 | Sri Lanka |
| Uganda | |
| 26 Jul 21:48 | England |
| Australia | |
Tickets obtained long ago, accommodation sorted, travel plans hatched, LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
Can’t wait to see the 7s, will be at the first session on Sunday. GO BlitzBokke GO Scotland!
There is no “Pool of Death” here.
But from the Semi’s on …………………………………………………it’s always great viewing. Make that FANTASTIC viewing.
Uganda, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and the Cooks all add spice and something new. The Commonwealth Games are NOT always about winning. They are The Friendly games.
cane wrote:
Then why keep score?
ANY Rugby is about winning – especially if SA meet NZ somewhere along the line.
How does the NZ squad look?
@ Scrumdown:
FAN FU CKING TASTIC.
See you in the Final.
😉
England could be the fly in the liniment
😉
@ Scrumdown:
ABOUT WINNING:
I didn’t mean Winning by the Heavy Weights……………………..Eng, Aus, NZ, SA, Samoa..
I meant the Uganda’s of the Rugby World.
(And if any Ugandans read this, this is Not a compliment).
5 @ cane:
Don’t be so sure that the African sides won’t get medals Cane…..if your boys win the gold, but just take their eyes of it for 10 seconds, those Africans boys will not just nab it, they will change it so that it looks like an Olympic Gold medal in under 15 minutes
@ cane:
Ooooops………………………………………………Sorry Ugandan’s I meant THIS IS A COMPLIMENT. Sport for what it should be..
@ nortierd:
Kenya a definite medal chance.
2 @ cane:
Hi cane am sure Glasgow will do that tag of Friendly Games justice, just watching the start of the footage ahead of the opening ceremony with Billy Connelly doing a voice over with scenes of the city showing, super stuff!
Wow can hear the pipes playing in Celtic Park which is bathed in sunshine, going to be a fantastic event.
Billy Connelly :”I’m looking forward to going to the velodrome to watch the cycling. Those guys have ridiculous thighs, they are almost frog-shaped people!
“We can be a cynical bunch but the Commonwealth Games have been embraced in Glasgow and its people which is lovely to see.”
@ Bullscot:
I think they are wheeling old Rod Stewart and his electrified wig out tonight for the opening ceremony!!
Susan Boyle will also be warbling, think I am safe to say Rod will not be ‘troubling’ her tonight at the after show party!! 😉
@ Blue Bird:
Hehe Blue Bird that is cruel 😀 Bit of a cringe worthy start to proceedings, getting better now.
@ Blue Bird:
On cue did you have inside info about Rod Stewart, there he is doing Rhythm of my heart!
@ Blue Bird:
Gosh now Susan Boyle doing Mull of Kintyre nice – you really must have inside info Blue Bird 😯
This is much better the pipes and drums sound great
Really lovely re working of the Proclaimers 500 miles, took a party sing along some and made a nice ballad of it, must try get a copy of that one
@ Bullscot:
I have heard that Simple Minds are on later!
More my line…
Bullscot wrote:
I know ‘stuff’ !! 😉
Welcome to Glasgow South Africa as Cecil Afrika is the flag bearer leading them in
@ Blue Bird:
#19 😯
@ Blue Bird:
I don’t know how who designed Scotland’s clothes they will wear tonight but don’t think much of the tartan see what you think.
@ Blue Bird:
#18 Alive and Kicking!
Great to see Phil Cunningham also involved, a wonderful musician and such a character
A fantastic rendition of Loch Lomond, beautiful violin playing by Ms Bernadetti
Billy Connolly proudly speaking about Glasgow being the first city in the world to give Madiba the freedom of a city
Nice story about Nelson Mandela and the Glasgow street named after him told by Bully Conolly !!
Snap !! lol
I’m off
Lekker Slaap
Let the Games Begin !!
@ Blue Bird:
Good night as well, looking forward to some great sporting moments at these Games
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