Young artists have designs on Athletes' Village walls with unique poster collection

27th June 2014

Around 9,000 brightly coloured posters have been produced by school children across Scotland to hang in the bedrooms at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes Village.

Young people from 23 Highland primary schools and 4 secondary schools took part in the competition to create a unique collection of artwork to adorn the athletes' bedroom.

The Primary schools were Ardgour, Ballachulish, Bishop Eden, Bower, Cannich Bridge, Caol, Crown, Dornoch, Edinbane, Eigg, Farr, Fort William, Golspie, Hillhead, Inshes, Inverie, Lady Lovat, Milton of Leys, Muck, Rosebank, Strathpeffer, Teanassie and Watten primary schools. The secondary schools who took part were Grantown Grammar, Kilchuimen Academy and Lochaber and Thurso High Schools.

Each artist has included their contact details on the front of each poster and the hope is that the athletes will send a quick email to thank them for their work. They may even take a snap of themselves beside the poster and then take it back home with them as a souvenir of Glasgow 2014.

The project was part of Game On Scotland and was launched last year to encourage young people to engage with the Games. The theme for the posters was around the 17 sports.

Game On Scotland is the education programme of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. It has been designed by Glasgow 2014 in collaboration with Education Scotland, the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council, enabling schools and educators to use the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as an inspiring, motivating, relevant and fun context for learning across the curriculum and for all ages. Schools across Scotland have made great use of the site, with well over 250,000 learners engaged through the programme.

In addition to the Game On Scotland project, approximately 400 pieces of additional artwork have been provided by the uniformed organisations including Girl Guiding Scotland, The Boys Brigade and Scouts Scotland.

Using the "Support A Second Team" programme, young people aged between five and 25, created artwork for their second teams that will be displayed within the offices of the Commonwealth Games Associations at the Village.

Athletes and team officials will be encouraged to take the pieces home with them after the Games.

Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive, David Grevemberg, said:“Young people are front and centre of our Games and to have this unique collection of artwork hanging on the walls throughout the Athletes’ Village as a message of welcome is a fantastic reminder of that. I am sure the athletes and officials will be delighted to have a visual reminder of sport, seen through the eyes of children, surrounding them. This bit of detail will make the Village a real home from home and provide its residents with a great souvenir from their Glasgow 2014 experience.”

Cabinet Secretary for sport and Commonwealth Games, Shona Robison, said:“The Athletes’ Village artwork project has engaged thousands of young people across Scotland, giving them a unique, exciting opportunity to be at the heart of the Games. Providing a colourful, personal welcome for the many athletes who will be making Scotland their home from home this summer, this project embodies Legacy 2014, which has young people at its core.

“The Game On Scotland programme is supporting professionals to use Glasgow 2014 to develop learners’ skills and knowledge across the curriculum. I congratulate those children who, through Game On Scotland, or via our uniformed organisations, have displayed great creativity in extending the hand of friendship to the sportsmen and women, plus officials, who will soon be making tracks for Glasgow.”

Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said:“This is a fantastic idea, showing the athletes of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games the vision of sport of our young people, and giving those young people the opportunity to be involved in this historic event. World-famous sports stars will be enjoying the creativity on display, to take back home a very positive impression of Glasgow and Scotland.”

Alison Drever, Senior Education Officer at Education Scotland, said:“We are delighted that over 9000 young people from across Scotland have been able to submit artwork for athletes and officials to enjoy. This has been one of the most comprehensive and inclusive competitions of Game On Scotland and will leave a lasting memory for both athletes and learners.”

Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said:“This project has been a fantastic way of engaging with young people from all over the country and I am sure the athletes will be absolutely delighted to find such a lovely welcome for them in their rooms and around the Village. Many congratulations to all the young people who put so much time and effort into making these posters.”