Saturday 2 August 2014

Day 12 - Reflections on the Friendly Games


Suddenly it's all over - 11 Days of competition, 71 nations and a Commonwealth audience

Last night at Hampden, Usain Bolt wowed the crowds and shrugged off the negative publicity of the previous days. Here are today's headlines



Today it is the Cycling Road Race in the City Centre. The women's event started at 8am and there is a good crowd out supporting them. The rain from last night has stopped and the roads are dry. There are some tight curves on the course - here at junction of Argyll Street and Buchanan Street



Junction of Buchanan Street and St Vincent Street

Nelson Mandela Place



So now it is time to leave Glasgow and make tracks home
Parting shots:

 On bus to Edinburgh Airport


So here are some departure lounge reflections

Having done the same role at both London 2012 games, it would be easy to compare and contrast. On reflection I don't think you can compare them - the budgets are in different leagues. London was £9billion, Glasgow just £500million. 

OK we had little niggles- meal vouchers, the quality and choice of food for example. But did those niggles really impact on our enjoyment of being at Glasgow 2014. Emphatically no!

We had extremes of weather - hot sunny 28c at the start to torrential rain at the end. Did that diminish the enthusiasm of the volunteers and spectators?  No, Saltires, Union Flags abounded. The crowd cheered the underdogs eg at Rugby 7s how they cheered the Ugandans 

One mention should be made of the excellent work that the military and police did in manning the security checkpoints. In particular military personnel repeated their efficient yet respectful approach to personal screening they had demonstrated at London 2012.  Some of our airport operators should again take heed of how it can be done

Again it was a pleasure to meet a wide range of athletes, to congratulate them on their success or acknowledge their contribution whatever the result of their competition

Likewise observing team officials, coaches, medical staff and technical officials is at times like watching a complicated multilevel chess game

We were lucky to be inside the venue, but we must acknowledge the massive contribution of our fellow volunteers working outside and throughout the city and at all the venues in all weathers 

There were only 15000 Clydesiders (compare that to London 2012 of 75000). How many will continue to volunteer on the future?

So here's a thought:

The Rio 2016 Volunteer applications open on 28 August

Go to www.rio2016.com and choose the English version. They will be providing a language pack to successful volunteers
As they have said at Glasgow 2014 - 'Bring It On'

Yes Glasgow was the Friendly City for the Friendly Games

So this is the final post. I hope you have enjoyed it, found the backstage info interesting and perhaps even learnt more about Glasgow

Time to bring the blog to an end - so how do I end it?

It has to be a few photos:






...and like previous blogs there can be only one final iconic photo:










Day 11 - Final Shift Part 2

As predicted only one meal voucher provided but had presumed that would be the case, so had a sandwich before checking in

So it was final goody time today


A lollipop, a limited edition workforce pin and a limited edition print of the 'Clydesider Journey'

So it was off to work and the 'Last Supper' - unfortunately they didn't pull anything special out of the bag for it. Also now that the weather has turned, cold and rainy, the ice cream was not so welcome 


Despite the weather, the venues have been filled out, and the spectators support all of the nations as they compete

Medals galore, with occasional world records or personal bests, have meant we have been up close to Gold, Silver and Bronze on a number of occasions

Tonight we come to thr end of 11 days of work. The team has worked well, shared out the work load equitably and overall really enjoyed the time here

And now for a Police Scotland message -    Crimewatch has released the following picture. Do you know anyone in it?


Thanks to the team -we had a great time. Tomorrow will be the last blog - with some reflection of the Glasgow 2014 experience 





Day 11 - Final Shift Part 1

So today is the final shift. It's a long one from 1pm to 10.30pm.   As it is under 10hrs we are supposedly only entitled to one meal, so will see if there is any common sense prevailing

First the news:

Not surprisingly the Nigerian female weightlifter tested positive on her second sample (no surprise there) and has been stripped of her Gold, which has now been given to the runner up from Papua New Guinea

The Australian weightlifter who headbutted the Welsh weightlifter has had his accreditation withdrawn and so cannot participate in any activity or remain in the athlete village

The Papua New Guinea weightlifter who was committed for trial for a sexual offence has had it postponed due to lack of availability of a translator

What is it with weightlifters?  

Also a Sierra Leone cyclist has gone walkabout (or should it be ride about?) from the Village. Police Scotland are looking for him

Today's trivia
What does the Glasgow 2014 logo mean?


Well, the outer red ring represents 20 (i.e 20th Commonwealth Games)
The Orange ring is 17/20th of the red and represents 17 sports
The Blue ring is 11/20th of the red and represents 11 days of competition
The G not surprisingly represents Glasgow. But why is it green?

The Gaelic for Glasgow (Ghlaschu or in Cumbric Glaschu) means 'Dear, Green  Place'. In fact it was originally not a Scottish settlement but Welsh but we are going back to the Stone Age

It was St Kentigern who is credited with establishing a fishing village on the banks of the Clyde in the 6th century. He subsequently was called 'Mungo', hence St Mungo being the patron saint of Glasgow

Simples!

While it is raining on and off it doesn't appear to have dampened the enthusiasm in the city

Overnight they have been busy. Crush barriers have been put up all along the course of tomorrow's Cycling Road Race  - women's event in morning followed by the men's in the afternoon. If it remains wet may well be a few spills to thrill the spectators


Hope the crowds come out

Friday 1 August 2014

Day 10 - Rest Day

So no specific Games posts, apart from a quick look at today's headlines in the Scottish Press





For the Class of '73 followers, a poignant reminder of the fading glory of Greasy Pete's?

Normal blog returns tomorrow