TEAM CANADA OFFICIALLY WELCOMED TO THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES VILLAGE
Glasgow, Scotland – On a beautiful sunny afternoon, members of Canada’s 265-strong athlete delegation gathered in advance of their official welcome to the Glasgow 2014 Athletes' Village. Congregating in the Canadian section of the Village, Team Canada was formally greeted by Chef de Mission Chantal Petitclerc and the Opening Ceremony flag-bearer, Susan Nattrass, who is competing in her fifth Commonwealth Games and is an eight-time Commonwealth Games medallist.
Athletes, coaches and support staff were warmly greeted by their Chef and leader, Chantal Petitclerc. “Welcome to Glasgow. It is a privilege and an honour to be your Chef de Mission here at these 2014 Commonwealth Games,” said Petitclerc.
She went on to share some of her own experiences as a high performance athlete, the first-ever medallist in a parasport event at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester (800m). Petitclerc also encouraged athletes to compete at their best while being fully aware that they have an entire team behind them, ready to support and assist wherever possible. Petitclerc then introduced Susan Nattrass, Team Canada’s Opening Ceremony flag-bearer for the XXth edition of the Commonwealth Games.
“To those of you who have already experienced the Commonwealth Games, welcome back, and to those of you who are living them for the first time, you are in for a treat,” shared Nattrass. “The competition level is exceptional, but it is that unique camaraderie and friendship that also exists at these Games that makes them special. I wish you the best of success on the field-of-play over the next few weeks, and I look forward to meeting many of you at Celtic Park as we gather for the Opening Ceremony.”
As is now a tradition at Commonwealth Games Canada, Nattrass was then presented with a silver and gold bracelet given to all Canadian Opening and Closing Ceremony flag-bearers.
The entire team, clad in matching white Canada t-shirts, marched to the Village’s International Zone for the official Commonwealth Games Village welcome ceremony where they were treated to a live show of theater and dance performed by Scottish youth under the watchful eye of Village Chieftain; 2012 Olympic medalist Katherine Grainger. Canadian Chef de Mission Chantal Petitclerc exchanged gifts with a representative of the region of Highland, the Scottish community matched with Canada in the lead-up to the Games. The Canadian flag was raised into a bright blue sky on an unseasonably warm Scottish afternoon, to the sounds of the familiar O Canada.
Also in attendance were Canadian friends and family, members of the Canadian media and the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) who subsequently toured the Athletes' Village.
“It was an honour to be part of the official welcome for Canada. I look forward to a successful Games and I am confident our athletes will make Canada proud,” said the Minister.
Stay tuned for Team Canada’s upcoming exploits and be sure to watch the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony as Canada walks in ,clad in plaid, televised live on CBC on Wednesday, July 23rd at 3.30 p.m. ET.
