From the Commonwealth Games Federation
UNICEF, the CGF and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have announced a unique collaboration for children that seeks to touch the lives of children in Scotland and in Commonwealth countries across the world.
This partnership brings together UNICEF, the world’s leading organisation for children, with the biggest sporting and cultural event ever to take place in Scotland, with the aim of inspiring and enabling children to be the best they can be.
The partnership was unveiled today by the first woman Olympic boxing gold medallist, Nicola Adams, at Swinton Primary School in the east end of Glasgow – a Rights Respecting School that is supported by UNICEF UK and an example of grassroots level activity in Scotland.
The event was hosted by the Glasgow pupils who demonstrated their hopes for a better future for children in song, poetry and pledges before asking Adams, Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive David Grevemberg, UNICEF UK Executive Director David Bull and CGF’s Vice-President Bruce Robertson, to add their opinions to the wall.
UNICEF ambassador Ewen McGregor said: “I couldn’t be more pleased that Glasgow has been selected to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games and partner with UNICEF. This partnership opens the door to helping transform children’s lives, both in my own country of Scotland, and in every Commonwealth nation. That’s a hugely exciting prospect.”
Mike Hooper, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: “We are very excited with this new partnership with UNICEF and Glasgow 2014. The Commonwealth Games movement embraces all 71 nations and territories across the Commonwealth and UNICEF works in a great many of these, helping children to have healthy, happy futures by ensuring they have access to education, healthcare and other practical assistance that will support their future development.”
For her part, Adams said, “I am absolutely delighted to support this partnership and be part of the event this morning. It was great to meet the children and hear about their aspirations and what they need to be the best they can be. This is a fantastic collaboration which will reach out to every child in Scotland and much further afield.
“I believe that every child has the right to reach their full potential and to be the best they can be and it was great to be able to tell the children my story and how I fulfilled my own potential. Hopefully there will be some inspirational messages they can take from that but I know I have definitely been inspired by the young people I have met here today.”
- The partnership, with the CGF and Glasgow 2014 aims to raise funds for UNICEF’s work in Commonwealth countries around the world.
- For more information contact Kate McCheyne, at Glasgow 2014 on +44 (0)30 2014 0176/ +44 (0)7557 565 423 or Sarah Vincent at UNICEF UK on +44 (0)7814 447 935.