Commonwealth Games: Ceremony to be true to Glasgow

THE opening ceremony for next year’s Commonwealth Games will marry a celebration of both “historical and contemporary” elements of Glasgow and Scotland, the chief executive of Glasgow 2014 has revealed.
Hampden Park will host the closing ceremony at Glasgow 2014. Picture: PAHampden Park will host the closing ceremony at Glasgow 2014. Picture: PA
Hampden Park will host the closing ceremony at Glasgow 2014. Picture: PA

David Grevemberg said organisers will soon begin to “drop hints” about the talent involved in next summer’s showpiece event, where the eyes of the world will be on Glasgow.

With the resounding success of Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony for the London Olympics, excitement and expectations are mounting over what officials in Glasgow have in store.

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Although the event will not enjoy the same budget as London’s opening ceremony, Mr Grevemberg said the plans in place would create an “exciting” and “distinct” event taking in the old and the new.

Although sessions for flagship events at Glasgow 2014 such as athletics, swimming and cycling could have been sold out several times over, tickets are still available for the opening and closing ceremonies that will bookend the spectacle.

‘Quarter of tickets available’

A quarter of briefs (25%) for the opening ceremony at Celtic Park on 23 July are still available, while 16% of tickets for the closing ceremony at Hampden Park on 3 August remain up for grabs.

Mr Grevemberg said he was pleased with the sales to date, given that no detail of individuals taking part in the ceremonies had been disclosed.

The opening ceremony will see the conclusion of the Queen’s Baton Relay, with the Queen herself declaring the Games open. It will be followed by the Parade of Nations, a formal procession of 4,500 athletes taking part.

Mr Grevemberg said: “I can’t go into the details at this time, but one of the things we will be highlighting is Glasgow and Scotland, both historical and contemporary, trying to get that balance right and making sure it appeals both here at home across Scotland and across the Commonwealth at the same time.

‘Juggling’

“Those are the some of things we are juggling in order to come up with a creative design that really makes the Games something exciting, engaging and truly meanwhile, but at the same time, distinct. It needs to be distinct and we recognise that. “

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He added: “We have had good demand without listing the talent or even starting to drop ideas of what it’s about. That will start to come as we confirm all the creatives and the talent for both ceremonies, that will generate more interest.

“Part of the plan is to inform people a little bit more about the events and start to drop hints about who’s going to be there and what they can expect.”

Hailing the “tremendous” ceremonies at Beijing and London, Mr Grevemberg stressed that Glasgow 2014 organisers had the confidence to “be what we are and to do things differently.”

“Without revealing too much, our angle is to really stay true to Glasgow,” he explained. “It hasn’t failed us so far.”