Guest Blogger Deputy High Commissioner Martin Reynolds:
Today is the last major milestone to the opening of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on 23 July 2014. Its only 100 days to go before Scotland opens its arms to the Commonwealth with the start of one of the most impressive sporting festivals in the world. By that time, the Queen’s baton will have travelled across the world, through 71 nations and territories and HM The Queen will then read her message to the athletes of the Commonwealth.
No one – except HM The Queen – knows exactly what the message will say. I suspect it will welcome the athletes and the Commonwealth to Glasgow and encourage them to be the “best that they can”, the motto of the Games.
This is an important objective for us all and one which I personally try to instil in my two sons. They are 8 and 10 years old and are already very active and competitive in sport – it is hard to be anything else in South Africa. But as someone once said, it is not just about the winning, it is also about the taking part – although that isn’t always in evidence at the various matches I attend at school and try saying that to Jose Mourinho! Sport is also about the spirit of community that it can deliver.
That is particularly true of the Commonwealth Games, which are known as “The Friendly Games”. As Madiba said, sport breaks barriers and speaks the language of the youth. I see that every time I watch my sons play sport and I saw it in spades when the Commonwealth Games Queen’s baton journeyed through southern Africa in February. I was struck by just how much enthusiasm and excitement the baton generated in its travels round the communities it visited, including Soweto and Reigerpark. That is the power of sport.
There is a strong connection between Glasgow and South Africa, with Madiba awarded the freedom of the city whilst he was still in prison in the 80s. Glasgow was the first city to do so and we will see that legacy carry on when South African artists perform at Glasgow Culture 2014 alongside the Games. These strong people to people links between the UK and South Africa will deepen this year, with our 20/20 Vision programme, which celebrates 20 years of democracy and freedom in South Africa with 20 partnerships for the future between our two countries.
Recent examples include the launch of the South Africa-UK season of arts and culture, the UK’s investment of over £100 million into the Square Kilometre Array project and the British Council Premier Skills programme, which trains grass root coaches in football skills and community development.
Sport is such an important part of our relationship, providing many opportunities for partnerships, but also friendly rivalries. We’ll see that when Scotland and Wales visit South Africa in June to play the Springboks and the reverse fixtures with England, Scotland and Wales ahead of the World Cup in England next year. The Boks will certainly be one of the favourites to walk away with the trophy – but there is a lot of rugby to be played between now and the final.
For those of you lucky enough to visit Glasgow and Scotland for the Commonwealth Games, you’ll be assured a warm welcome and witness an excellent environment for investment, business, education and tourism. I wish all South African athletes well. We may well see them in action again on home turf in the Commonwealth Games, should Durban be successful in its bid to host the Games in 2022. I’ll certainly come back to South Africa for that!