The Ceremony will take place in the Main Stadium, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on the last day of the sports competitions on Thursday 14rth of October 2010 and starts at approximately at 7pm local time and 1.30pm GMT.
The Creative Concept behind the performance will show the traditional aspect that the world will associate with Scotland as well as a modern urban feel to represent Glasgow as the Host City. The 348 members of the cast are from all over Scotland and from a wide range of backgrounds.
The Performance and mass choreographed dance routine will be performed to a audience of 60,000 in the Stadium and beamed to a television audience of approximately 1 billion people!
Glasgow 2014 aim to use the Delhi 2010 Handover as a catalyst for engaging communities across Scotland by establishing a network of people who will be motivated by the life changing experience of being involved in the Dehli 2010 Flag Handover and will become Ambassadors for Glasgow and the Games over the next four years.
Glasgow Chief Executive John Scott said,
“I am delighted that Ross, Jennifer and Laura from West Dunbartonshire are training to be part of the 348 strong cast to perform in New Dehli, inviting the rest of the world to the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in 2014.
I look forward to seeing how the rehearsals will progress when they officially start in September. This is a significant moment in Scottish history and I am sure everyone involved will do Scotland proud.”
Mark Fisher from Unspun said:
“By recruiting a cast of dancers and athletes across Scotland, we are confident that this will be an outstanding event, which will capture both the spirit of Scotland and Glasgow’s unique personality. Unspun is extremely excited to be working with Glasgow 2014 to deliver this amasing event.”
West Dunbartonshire Council’s Chief Executive, David McMillan explains:
“West Dunbartonshire’s Ambassadors got picked to represent West Dunbartonshire through an application process that each applicant had to explain what contribution they made to their local community through volunteering in active, cultural or sporting activities, why they believed they deserved the opportunity and what it would mean to them to take part in the handover ceremony. I am personally delighted that Ross Jennifer and Laura will represent West Dunbartonshire. I am very confident that they will do a fantastic job!”
Ross MacPherson, 19 from Alexandria was selected becauseRoss has done over 700 hours of volunteering in West Dunbartonshire, gaining 3 MV Awards and also winning Volunteer of the Year at the Tullochan Trust Awards. Having also took part in many a bag pack for Tullochan, CHAS and Autism Scotland, raising funds for each of the charities. Ross travelled to Costa Rica and Nicaragua and volunteered for 3 months after months of doing fundraisers to pay his way. On top of all his volunteer work Ross was also Head Boy at the Vale of Leven Academy.
Currently employed full time as a youth worker with Haldane Youth Services, Ross is committed to giving young people a better future.
Ross says:
”It means a lot for me to be chosen as an Ambassador as it’s a part of Scottish history and to be a part of the Commonwealth Games Flag Handover in New Dehli is a great honour. It’s also a great opportunity for West Dunbartonshire to show that not all people my age are bad people. This is a great example to the young people I work with, to see that they can achieve all they want in life. It’s a fantastic PR exercise for the young people of West Dunbartonshire.”
Jennifer Davidson, 18, from Alexandria was selected because Jenny is a very committed and active young person within West Dunbartonshire as an active member of the Sports Youth Group, which helps with the development of young aspiring coaches from the age of 14-21, currently the Vice-Secretary in a structured committee within the group. As part of the group, Jennifer has planned and carried out free multi-sports camps for children aged 7-12 in West Dunbartonshire and also coaching gymnastics with Sports Development. Jennifer started off volunteering which has lead to her full time employment. Also having participated in the planning and carrying out of a recent gymnastics camp for children aged 5-12, Jennifer works very hard within her local community to help give children better and more opportunities to develop in sport.
Jennifer says:
“To be involved in the ceremony fills me with real sense of pride as I am representing West Dunbartonshire in this huge event. This is a great personal achievement and something I am sure will stay with me for life and I feel that it will benefit me in terms of life experience. I also feel that with my background in dance, I will really relish this experience as I absolutely love to perform!”
Laura Young, 25 from Alexandria was selected currently works for West Dunbartonshire Council Sports Development Unit. Laura regularly help local sports clubs grow and develop, as well as supporting the volunteers that are essential to the sporting infrastructure in West Dunbartonshire, she helps promote netball, gymnastics and badminton in the area which are all commonwealth sports. Out with her job role Laura also developed the constitution of her dance group so that they can apply for funds to help develop and promote themselves to the local community. As a board member for SPARC Community Arts for 2 years up until the dance project ended in June 2009, Laura helped support and promote dance in West Dunbartonshire for participants aged 16-24 years.
Laura says:
“Having lived in West Dunbartonshire for 25 years, I absolutely love this opportunity to represent the area in such an exciting and important role. Haven been involved in volunteering in sport and dance for the last ten years, travelling to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it will be great to not only experience the Commonwealth Games first hand but to experience such a different culture and lifestyle, as well as raising the profile of both West Dunbartonshire and Scotland.”
