Lotw Diary- Celtic And The Commonwealth
The photo above reflects the kind of reaction that has swept Celtic cyberspace after the announcement of the Commonwealth Games being awarded to Glasgow in 2014. While I am all for a bit of pish taking the involvement that Celtic are taking in this, is a as far removed from the historical politics of oor club as playing in red, white and blue.
The Commonwealth is the successor of the British Empire, different functions, granted, and the first games were basically set up to celebrate the British Empire and British ness hence the lawn bowls being included as a sport. The games have been under numerous guises British Empire Games, British Empire and Commonwealth games, British Commonwealth games and eventually in it’s current format.
Now, while it is now just seen as a crap Olympic games, it’s history and the criteria to be a competing nation, all bar 2 colonized by Britain at some point, should have the protectors of the Celtic name and heritage running for cover. But they have welcomed it wie open arms as the £ signs flash in their eyes.
In this week when it’s oor clubs birthday, the reasons behind the formation, due to the reasons and problems caused by the said that we will be asked to celebrate in 2014, will have all that were at the meeting on the 6th November 2007 turning in their graves.
I understand the benefits that these games will bring to Glasgow. The regeneration of a rundown area, improved transport links, new shops, houses, bars etc are all great. I will go as far to say that it should have been done years ago. I also understand that times and the function of the Commonwealth have changed.
So while we can boast of a new stand, maybe, shiny new train and underground station and worldwide exposure remind yourself that when the union flag flies, the Queen or King is on the park and the unions national anthem plays oor riches have been gained by the values that oor friend across the river hold dear to their hearts.
Oh the irony.
Forza
The Commonwealth is the successor of the British Empire, different functions, granted, and the first games were basically set up to celebrate the British Empire and British ness hence the lawn bowls being included as a sport. The games have been under numerous guises British Empire Games, British Empire and Commonwealth games, British Commonwealth games and eventually in it’s current format.
Now, while it is now just seen as a crap Olympic games, it’s history and the criteria to be a competing nation, all bar 2 colonized by Britain at some point, should have the protectors of the Celtic name and heritage running for cover. But they have welcomed it wie open arms as the £ signs flash in their eyes.
In this week when it’s oor clubs birthday, the reasons behind the formation, due to the reasons and problems caused by the said that we will be asked to celebrate in 2014, will have all that were at the meeting on the 6th November 2007 turning in their graves.
I understand the benefits that these games will bring to Glasgow. The regeneration of a rundown area, improved transport links, new shops, houses, bars etc are all great. I will go as far to say that it should have been done years ago. I also understand that times and the function of the Commonwealth have changed.
So while we can boast of a new stand, maybe, shiny new train and underground station and worldwide exposure remind yourself that when the union flag flies, the Queen or King is on the park and the unions national anthem plays oor riches have been gained by the values that oor friend across the river hold dear to their hearts.
Oh the irony.
Forza
Posts
10 comments:
Why do we need the prospect of a 10 day sporting event to regenerate a needy area? Huge open parts of the east end are quite scary. 8-0
Och well, some people think it`s exciting, fair play to them. Some people want to queue to buy a £250 phone thingy.
Don`t you envy people who know what they like?
I for one am delighted that Glasgow will be hosting this major sports event - and pretty chuffed that Paradise will take centre stage.
The person that opens the games will hopefully be treated with the welcome & respect that any guest who comes to Celtic Park is due. I think that may also be part of our heritage and what differentiates us from the Govan crew: respect and tolerance of others.
Time to move on, we are better than that.
Why do we need a sporting event to regenerate a needy area? It's the way of the world. I think it's a great opportunity for the city and particularly the east end. More often than not the gift horses pass us by.
Aprt from the benefits in the infrastructure mentioned in your article, I think it will be a geat motivator for a lot of younsters to get out their sports gear again.
Sorry Kevin, I can only see positives in this and don't agree with the "selling our souls" angle.
Kevin are YOU a sellout? I just noticed the ads! I wonder if they would sponsor my blog too?
I`d better put something new on it. :-)
Ian and Sixtaeseven- Both, as usual, make really valid points- one of the reason I have bowed to the man, hence the ads, more later- and I agree and understand the views you put.
I feel that it�s shocking that we require a 10 day sporting event to regenrate a poor area, an area I have been attending for years, but unfortunantly as a keen follower of politics I know these types of things are the way of the world as Manchester will testify and also London.
The positives far out way the negatives and petty historical arguments. The east end will become the new west end and I�m sure in 5 years time I will be in a shiny chain pub outside parkhead or eating a sandwich from a fancy shop rather than the food vans or having a pint in the London road tav.
The historical poor east end will change forever and maybe this links in wie Celtic�s history? Well, Celtic were formed to help the poor in the east end, no matter of colour, creed or religion the awarding of these games maybe achieves the aims of those that met 120 years ago and in fact could be fitting that we are at the center of the opening?
Celtic�s part in this, is basically profile building and money making. The opportunity to promote itself as a proud Scottish club based in the area that will benefit most from these games is a gift horse they couldnae miss wie them being a PLC.
I never wanted the article to be seen as anti or pro the games. I never wanted the selling oor souls angle as that happened years ago. The soul of Celtic is alive through the fans not through the actions of a PLC that do see us as consumers.
I just wanted to point oot the history of the commonwealth, which for me it�s shady past is maybe not something to be celebrated and what these games were created for. I just found it amusing that for all the values of the commonwealth these games should be taking part at ipox and not the most anti establishment club, supporters wise, in Britain.
It just shows you how perceptions and views have changed over the years. As for whoever opens it, I couldnae gie a toss. I won�t be there, I will welcome the regeneration for the poorest people who have had to put up wie slums and poor facilities for years.
So what, the queen or king will visit. It�s no worse than in the early nineties the stadium being used to host cup finals that the h*ns were playing in and feed the bear wiping his hands on the hoops to shake the most evil wimin of the 20th centuries, some would say. hand in 1988. I�m also sure a union jack has flown above CP for years.
Sixtaeseven you hit it on the head, I�m tolerate of others views and if people want to go and celebrate the union and a celebration of slavery then go on who am I to say they are in the wrong
Ok, I have sold oot, the adds have appeared after numerous months of e-mails from outside sources. The main reason is over the last few months the amount of traffic on the site has increased. This flags the attention of the �man�. It�s all down to the quality of comments lads make no mistakes.
I�m hoping that if the traffic increases further the site is now being pinged into feeds worldwide, that I will be able to choose who I want to advertise on the site. At the moment I�m in the hands of google.
Any money made will go back into the site, new technology maybe eventually a move away from blogger, podcasts, more photo�s video uploadings who knows the site has progressed since the summer, in fact I think I can say it has came on 10 fold since it�s
beginnings in Aug 05.
So it�s up to you, click the ads when you visit if you want, I�ll do my bit here, some of the celtic stuff advertised is worth a look, be sure it�s not a massive earner I will not be knocking doon Dermot Desmonds door soon saying I want his shares and burning the union jack above CP��.
Forza
To the bookies�.
also, up the top right you can now subcribe to LOTW, plonk in yer e-mail address and it gets sent to your inbox.
please note the verification thing took a while for me to test...i had a couple of goes with no success, then i clicked on back, deleted the letters entered and put in the new verification code.
seemed to work.
any trouble e-mail me at ke.1975@hotmal.com and i will try and sort.
I think that Celtic FC still do (as they always have done) a lot more than they get credit for as far as charitable works goes, help to the underprivedged, etc. Maybe it's not shouted from the rooftops, and that's how it should be. But it's still there.
I've been away from Scotland for many years, so you know better than me that we had to change our ways (not 'sell our souls') or go under, and luckily a man wi a bunnet was on hand at a critcal time.
Success on the park only comes when the business side of things is managed. It's the facts of life in the modern world especially when we're trying to compete on an uneven European stage (aye, and an uneven playing field in aul Scotia as well). But I still think that we adhere to our root values more than most.
I don't know who made the decision to hold the opening ceromony at Paradise, but it was a real ballsy decision when you stop ta think about it. The cop-out to do it at Hampden or somewhere was avoided and, Ipox being a 5-star bigot hole, the irony of the situation will not be lost on anybody with two nurones to rub together.
As Scotland is not likely to host the World Cup, Olympics, Rugby WC or even the European championship, this is the nearest we get (apart from hosting the odd European final or under 16s world fitba tourney) to doing anything on this scale. I don't think anybody going to any of the events will look on this as anything to do with a celebration of the 'union'. They will be going to have a good time, hopefully shout on a few young Scots athletes, and generally welcome all creeds and colors. I remember as a kid following the event with my mates when it was in Ediburgh (1970) and it was brilliant, nearly the same buzz as the fitba, and that's saying somehing, coming as it did hard on the heels of the Mexico WC.
Slavey or empire or any of that crap was the furthest thing from our thoughts.
I'm proud of our Club and our history and values and I sicerely think this event will do us more good than harm.
Maybe even ask Mrs Winsor if she'd like to have a swatch of oor Coronation Cup while she's there?
:o)
Sixtaeseven, yes we did have to change oor ways, but I think the ethos of the club still runs through the veins of the supporters and no matter what happens that heritage will get passed down through generations.
The club has morphed into a business. This was an opportunity that couldnae be missed as basically we have the biggest stadium in Glasgow.
Of course you are correct that the games no longer represent the reason why they were started in the first place. In fact they will be looked upon like you say as a chance for Scottish sportsmen and women to represent Scotland.
We do celebrate in song winning the coronation cup, a feat that tickled the Celtic support, so I suppose we could look at this again as getting one over the establishment as the SFA will be boiling that hampden has been relegated for this occasion. There is also no better place to welcome the races and religions of the world under one roof.
The regeneration of the area round CP will benefit Celtic in a business for years to come. Wonder if the ipox casino will be remuted now…
Talking about things "Tic" being passed down through generations, I has a wee chuckle to myself today as my 11 year old referred quite naturally to the green "man" at the zebra as "Jinky".
No bad for a wee French laddie, eh?
:o)
PS
We could also haul out the Empire Exihibition trophy for Aul Lizzie. If she's brought her brasso with her, she can maybe give them a wee clean?
PPS
Any truth in the Deek to Tarts rumour? If he's off in January(tarts or otherwise), what's the going rate?
The BBC are running wie the Deek story, i think it might be best for the wee man to get out of Scotland to tell u the truth.
I'm sure he has always wanted to partner Craig Beattie in Baggie country.....
What a story Sixtaeseven you must be so proud...wee jinky indeed...
interesting article. I would love to follow you on twitter. By the way, did anyone know that some chinese hacker had busted twitter yesterday again.
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