Home » News » Homecoming Celebrations for Scottish athletes
Details of the homecoming celebrations to honour
Scottish Olympians and Paralympians have been released today
(Wednesday).
The celebrations take place on Friday, 14
September, and have four main components: beginning at the iconic
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the parade then takes the
athletes from the West End, through the city centre to the
celebrations at George Square, after which the athletes,
their guests, and dignitaries enjoy a reception hosted by the First
Minister Alex Salmond in the Old Fruitmarket.
As an Olympic City, currently bidding for the Youth
Olympic Games in 2018, and hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014,
Glasgow is a destination for top-class sporting events and the
ideal location for these celebrations.
Most of the Scottish Olympians and Paralympians
have already confirmed their attendance, including Sir Chris Hoy,
Katherine Grainger, Glasgow’s Michael Jamieson, and Neil
Fachie.
Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona
Robison said:
“We saw some remarkably talented Scottish athletes
compete in this year’s Olympics and achieve a record-breaking medal
haul. The Paralympics have now got off to a great start, with
many medals already on the table.
“This is exactly why people from all over Scotland
should come to Glasgow to watch the parade, celebrate our athletes’
achievement in style and give them the homecoming parade they truly
deserve.”
Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland,
said:
“These celebrations are a fitting tribute for all
of the Scottish athletes in Team GB and ParalympicsGB, and are a
great opportunity for the people of Scotland to salute them for
their tremendous efforts.
“Scotland is rightly proud of our athletes who
delivered the highest medal tally in the history of the Olympics
and have already secured 10 medals at the Paralympics, surpassing
the eight won four years ago in Beijing.
“There is a terrific sporting momentum from the
London Games’ success, and we will build on that in the run-up to
Glasgow 2014, where Team Scotland is aiming to make 2014 the most
successful ever Commonwealth Games.”
Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City
Council, said:
“This city loves sport and I know Glasgow will give
our Olympic and Paralympic heroes a welcome they will never
forget.
“Scottish athletes like Sir Chris Hoy, Katherine
Grainger and our own Michael Jamieson have written themselves into
the history books as part of Team GB – and the excitement that we
have all shared this summer is only going to grow here in Glasgow
as we get closer to 2014.
“People are going to want to come from across the
country to be part of that; to line the streets to show our team
how proud we are of every one of them.”
Andy Hunt, Chief Executive of the British Olympic
Association and Chef de Mission for Team GB, said:
“Scottish athletes contributed 13 medals to Team GB
and deserve to be celebrated in style. No one more so than Sir
Chris Hoy who became the most decorated British Olympian of all
time by securing another two gold medals at the London 2012 Olympic
Games, surpassing Sir Steve Redgrave’s total of five gold
medals.
“Every member of Team GB has inspired a new
generation to take up sport and we hope that with Glasgow bidding
for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, this will continue.”
The celebrations commence at the Kelvingrove Art
Gallery and Museum, where there will be a media and
photo-opportunity with the athletes.
The athletes then travel from the West End to the
city centre on three 7.5 tonne wheelchair-friendly, flatbed
vehicles, with the parade culminating at George Square.
At George Square, there will be a stage, large
screen, and entertainment, all orchestrated by MC Jill Douglas.
Scots in Team GB and ParalympicsGB will be invited up to the stage
to engage with the crowd.
Dignitaries attending include the First Minister
Alex Salmond, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona
Robison, sportscotland Chair Louise Martin, sportscotland Chief
Executive Stewart Harris, Lord Provost of Glasgow Sadie Docherty,
Leader of Glasgow City Council Gordon Matheson, and BOA Chairman
Lord Moynihan.
The final component of the athletes’ homecoming
will be a reception hosted by the First Minister at the Old
Fruitmarket – the scene of jubilant celebrations in 2007 when
Glasgow was announced as the winner of the bidding process to host
the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The street parades are not ticketed and entry to
George Square, which has a 17,000 capacity, will be on a first-come
basis.
The homecoming celebrations to honour Scottish Olympians
and Paralympians will take place
in Glasgow on Friday 14
September.
The celebrations have four main components: beginning at the
iconic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the parade then takes
the athletes from the West End, through the city centre to the
celebrations at George Square, after which the athletes,
their guests, and dignitaries enjoy a reception hosted by the First
Minister Alex Salmond in the Old Fruitmarket.
Download Homecoming Celebrations Parade Map
(PDF)
Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison
said:
“We saw some remarkably talented Scottish athletes compete in
this year’s Olympics and achieve a record-breaking medal haul.
The Paralympics have now got off to a great start, with many
medals already on the table.
“This is exactly why people from all over Scotland should come
to Glasgow to watch the parade, celebrate our athletes’ achievement
in style and give them the homecoming parade they truly
deserve.”
Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland,
said:
“These celebrations are a fitting tribute for all of the
Scottish athletes in Team GB and ParalympicsGB, and are a great
opportunity for the people of Scotland to salute them for their
tremendous efforts.
“Scotland is rightly proud of our athletes who delivered the
highest medal tally in the history of the Olympics and have already
secured 10 medals at the Paralympics, surpassing the eight won four
years ago in Beijing.
“There is a terrific sporting momentum from the London Games’
success, and we will build on that in the run-up to Glasgow 2014,
where Team Scotland is aiming to make 2014 the most successful ever
Commonwealth Games.”
The celebrations commence at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and
Museum, where there will be a media and photo-opportunity with the
athletes.
The athletes then travel from the West End to the city centre on
three 7.5 tonne wheelchair-friendly, flatbed vehicles, with the
parade culminating at George Square.
At George Square, there will be a stage, large screen, and
entertainment, all orchestrated by MC Jill Douglas. Scots in Team
GB and ParalympicsGB will be invited up to the stage to engage with
the crowd.
The final component of the athletes’ homecoming will be a
reception hosted by the First Minister at the Old Fruitmarket – the
scene of jubilant celebrations in 2007 when Glasgow was announced
as the winner of the bidding process to host the 2014 Commonwealth
Games.
The street parades are not ticketed and entry to George Square,
which has a 17,000 capacity, will be on a first-come basis.
For more information, please visit the sportscotland website
