Worldwide ceilidh will spread across globe for Games launch
A MASSIVE ceilidh is to be held across the world as part of the cultural celebration of the Commonwealth Games.
Dances will take place in Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and the US throughout tomorrow, with each country performing its own take on a traditional ceilidh.
It is open to all and has been organised by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme and the Get Scotland Dancing project.
The first dance will be held in Auckland, New Zealand, at 7.30pm local time, and will travel west with dances reaching Scotland 13 hours later and ending in Hawaii 24 hours after the first ceilidh call.
James Al l e nby, project manager at Get Scotland Dancing, said: “On June 21 the world will join hands to celebrate Scottish dance and culture.”
A series of modern dances made up of ceilidh, hip-hop and Indian dancing will be performed at events in Scotland, and each ceilidh will be “unique to its location”, organisers said.
Creative Scotland chief executive Janet Archer said: “Ceilidh’s are at the heart of so many celebrations across Scotland, it is perfect that this global ceilidh should be held as part of the cultural celebrations for the Commonwealth Games.” JANET ARCHER: Creative Scotland chief welcomed plans.
Fo r mer Commonwealth athletes and organisers will be involved in the dances. Despite not competing in the Commonwealth Games, country dancing clubs in Colorado, South Charlotte and Hawaii in the US will take part in the event.
David Williamson, president of RSCDS New Zealand branch is excited to be starting the ceilidh.
He said: “It will be a momentous occasion for New Zealand Scottish country dancing.”
Meanwhile new awards have been introduced to recognise sporting achievements in schools in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games. A sportscotland programme is giving schools gold, silver and bronze titles to reward innovation and achievement in physical education.
Sports Minister Shona Robison helped launch the scheme in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, yest e r day, and said it is important to acknowledge the hard work of pupils and school staff.
The scheme is being piloted in West Lothian, Argyll and Bute and North Lanarkshire, with 74 schools so far achieving an award — including 15 which were honoured with gold.
To be recognised with an award, schools have to be performing well in PE classes and with extra-curricular sports.
The programme has been designed to capitalise on the excitement around the Commonwealth Games and to make sport and exercise a key part of the life of young people.
Ms Robison said: “It is so encouraging to see that such a high number of schools have achieved gold awards.”
Royal Commonwealth Pool will will close to the public at 10pm today, when Edinburgh Leisure hands the keys over to Glasgow 2014, so they can begin getting it ready for the competition.
It will re-open to the public on August 16.
The Royal Commonwealth Pool will become the only venue in the world to feature in the Commonwealth Games for the third time, having previously hosted events in 1970 and 1986.