Athletes celebrate Commonwealth Day

Inspiring youth and para-athletes celebrate inclusivity of sport on Commonwealth Day

Athletes across the Commonwealth celebrated Commonwealth Day, and the 2016 theme of “An Inclusive Commonwealth”, at events today, 14 March 2016. The celebrations, which take place across the Commonwealth on the second Monday in March every year, provide an opportunity to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of Commonwealth organisations.

The Commonwealth sporting movement marked the start of Commonwealth week by revealing the biggest-ever para-athlete participation in the next Commonwealth Games, which takes place in Gold Coast in 2018. The CGF and Gold Coast 2018 organisers have unveiled the largest-ever para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history, featuring up to 300 athletes across 38 events in 7 sports.

To mark the historic announcement, Youth Games medallists and Glasgow 2014 para-athletes attended the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society. Later, they met Her Majesty the Queen at a special reception at Marlborough House, home of the Commonwealth Secretariat. In attendance were Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games medallists Rebekah O’Loughlin, Georgina Boyle, Biatrice Cabbell and Glasgow 2014 para-athletes Samantha Kinghorn and Paul Brown.

David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: Sport is one of the Commonwealth’s most powerful connectors. Through it we live the shared values of Humanity, Equality and Destiny as well as all of the positive experiences gained through joining together as nations of territories on a level playing field. Commonwealth Day is a valuable opportunity for all of us in the Commonwealth Sporting Movement to celebrate our shared successes and future aspirations of enriching the lives of communities through sport.”

Welcoming the CGF’s engagement in Commonwealth Day, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary General of the Commonwealth said: “The Commonwealth Games have long been known as the 'friendly games' and now they earn the well-deserved title of the 'inclusive games'. I commend the continuing commitment and positive efforts of the Commonwealth Games Federation to ensure the spirit of 'An Inclusive Commonwealth' is carried forward in practical ways. Greater opportunity for participation by all advances the transformative potential of sport to empower and embrace all Commonwealth citizens as a global good.”

In Queensland, Australia, at the Gold Coast Arts Centre, the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, read the Queen’s Commonwealth Day message to students from 112 schools participating in the Gold Coast 2018’s schools programme, at a special Commonwealth Day event attended by Glasgow 2014 gold medallist para-athlete, swimmer Rowan Crothers.

In Canada, it was announced that a new cohort of future sport leaders are embarking on a development programme focused on teaching children and young people the values of trust, respect, responsibility, fair play, caring, and community through sport. The sport for development initiative is jointly developed by the Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (SOCGA) and Commonwealth Games Canada’s SportWORKS program (a unique capacity-building program to promote community and social development throughout the Commonwealth).

Team Scotland wheelchair racer Samantha Kinghorn, finalist in the T54 1500m at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games said: “Representing my country as part of Team Scotland was the most incredible experience and I’m thrilled that more para-athletes than ever before will share that experience on the Gold Coast in 2018. It’s a huge honour to be in London today to represent para-athletes across the Commonwealth on this special day for para-sport”.

Rebekah O’Loughlin, gold medal-winning tennis player at the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games for Team Wales, said: “Taking part in the Commonwealth Youth Games and meeting other athletes from all over the world was a huge learning experience and one of the most amazing sporting moments in my journey so far. It makes me very proud to be part of today’s Commonwealth Day celebrations in London and see how sport creates an international community of friends who share the same passions and goals”.

ENDS

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