Glasgow bids a fitting farewell to a fantastic fortnight

The flag of the Commonwealth Games is lowered during the Closing Ceremony for the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014, at Hampden Park stadium, in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sunday. The flag will be raised again in 2018 in the Gold Coast in Australia which will host the 21st games.

After 11 days of intense competition in 17 sports across 13 venues, the city of Glasgow provided a fitting farewell to the participants of the 20th Commonwealth Games at Hampden Park late on Sunday night.

It was an occasion to rejoice on a job well done, and the two-hour long ceremony reflected the mood of the people around before a spectacular fireworks display lit up the city’s skyline to signal the end of the Games.

The closure of the event was also marked by the regular sports protocol including the presentation of the David Dixon award for the outstanding performance at the Games to rhythmic gymnast Francesca Jones (Wales).

And then, the Commonwealth Games Federation president Prince Imran, in a speech, briefly touched upon the performances at the Games before stating that the Glasgow Games have been the best ever conducted. “Glasgow, you were pure dead brilliant.

The rendition of Robert Burn’s “Ae Fond Kiss” by Karen Matheson saw the lowering of the Games flag which then was carried through the throng of athletes on the pitch to be passed on to Tom Tate, the Mayor of Gold Coast where the Games will be held in 2018.

The stage was then set for all the dazzle and fun as a stunning stage show featuring Australian superstar singer Kylie Minogue, compatriot Jessica Mauboy, Glasgow’s famous singer Lulu and rock band Deacon Blue.

Perfect swansong

It marked a perfect swansong to what had been a fantastic fortnight, one in which the city of Glasgow, the athletes and the entire Games fraternity flourished in a warm embrace of unity and friendship.

There were cheers and tears as everyone present put aside partisan attitudes to underline once again why this massive gathering of sportsmen, sportswomen and spectators revels in the mantle of the friendly Games.

The event this time around was topped by England with a tally of 178 medals (58 gold, 59 silver and 58 bronze), brushing past six-time champion Australia which was second with a haul of 137 (49-42-46).

For host Scotland the Games was quite rewarding as it finished with its best haul ever (19-15-19, 53) behind third-placed Canada (32-16-34, 82).

Quite notably even the notorious Scottish weather played its part by providing robust sunshine, making everyone forget the storms and the resultant fury experienced in the morning.

Now it is off to the Gold Coast with a challenge to do better.