Commonwealth Games - Hosts and Champions

Regular readers of our digital magazine will know that I am huge fan of the young atheltes that work so hard to make their presence on an International stage. Last summer, as the Commonwealth Games dominated Scotland and every screen we own, I was glued to Stephen Milne and Gillian Edwards as they stepped up to represent Perth as part of Team Scotland. 

So you can imagine how excited I was when Live Active Leisure announces that Dewars Centre has been selected as a venue for a touring exhibition celebrating the special relationship that Scotland holds with the Commonwealth Games.

The exhibition has been drawn from the Commonwealth Games Scotland Archive held by the University of Stirling and was officially opened by Provost Liz Grant at a Special Launch Event held on Wednesday evening.

‘Hosts and Champions: Scotland in the Commonwealth Games’ celebrates over eighty years of participation by Scotland in the Commonwealth Games. It will showcase Scotland’s first achievements back in the original British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930 and run through to the tremendous efforts and glorious medal haul that made Glasgow 2014 deserving of the title, #BestGamesEver.

Welcoming the exhibition to Dewars Centre guest speaker Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “The Commonwealth Games Scotland Archive is a fantastic collection of artefacts which highlight how the Games have grown and Scotland’s involvement from the very beginning. We are delighted these exhibitions will bring the archive to life and allow people to share in what makes the Commonwealth Games so special.”

The exhibition includes photographs, designs, clothing, papers and artefacts all of which evoke a rich story of Scotland’s involvement in one of our favourite international sporting events. Among the highlights are the winners’ podiums, mascots over the years, a fantastic series of black and white images from the Scottish 1970 Games and, of course, a particular emphasis on our years as hosts in 1970, 1986 and 2014.

Live Active Leisure CEO, Jim Moyes commented: “We are delighted to welcome this fantastic piece of Scottish Sporting History to Dewars Centre and I am certain the people of Perth and Kinross will embrace the opportunity to visit and enjoy this eighty year old legacy.  It gives a fascinating insight into Scotland’s involvement, culminating in Glasgow 2014.

Of course, Perth and Kinross has been fortunate to enjoy its share of the medals over the years and we hope to welcome some of these athletes to Dewars over the course of the exhibition.”

Running for one month between 28^th May and 26^th June, the event at Dewars is open to the public, schools and local clubs and is free for all to attend. As the only Tayside venue in a year-long touring programme, the event launched with a special event for invited guests.

The public can follow the exhibition on social media using #HostsandChampions and LAL are encourage everyone visiting in Perth to photograph these iconic sporting artifacts and share via their own social media with the additional hashtag, #GamesAtDewars.  And if you have space to throw in #PerthLoveFest we'll find it and give you a rewteet or share!

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Vist at Dewars Centre, Glover Street, Perth, PH2 0TH

Opening Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 9am – 5pm
Tuesday and Thursday – 9am – 7pm
Saturday 13^th June as part of Adventure Festival – 9am – 5pm