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First Minister Visits Hosts And Champions Exhibition

The Hosts And Champions Exhibition at Dewars Centre welcomed some very special guests over the weekend, including First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who took some time our during SNP's National Council which was being held in our conference venue. 

If you've not had the chance to visit, the exhibition showcases the Commonwealth Games Scotland archive curated by the University of Stirling. ‘Hosts and Champions: Scotland in the Commonwealth Games’ celebrates over eighty years of participation by Scotland in the Commonwealth Games and 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. 

First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said of the exhibition

“I was delighted to take time out from our National Council to have a look round this wonderful exhibition and I hope that the people of Perth enjoy the opportunity to see our Commonwealth games heritage, The Glasgow games caught the Scottish publics imagination and it is great we have such a fine exhibition to demonstrate our association with the event’.

Accompanying the First Minister local MP, Pete Wishart added.

“This exhibition is stuffed full of fantastic artefacts that document our relationship with the Commonwealth games and brings these gatherings to life. I will never forget when the Commonwealth games baton came through Perthshire and the crowds that it drew. These are a games the Scottish people particularly enjoy and I hope that this exhibition draws the crowds in Perth”

Sunday's political visitors followed Friday's sporting heroes as we welcomed three generations of Commonwealth Games Swimmers all connected to Live Active Leisure. 

Stephen Milne, who many of you will recognise as a Silver Medallist from the Glasgow Games was joined by fellow LAL Talented Athlete, Sandy Galletly and LAL Operations Manager, Gary Watson.
  • Stephen Swam in 2014
  • Gary Watson swam in 1986 and 1990
  • Sandy Galletly Swam in 1958, 1966 and 1970.
Gary and Sandy impressed us all by wearing kit from their time in the Commonwealth Games; Gary in his Scotland tracksuit top from 1986 and Sandy in his blazer from 1966!
 
To mark the occassion of these prestigious visits, we were entrusted with the offical Queens Baton, which was delivered to us by Jon Doig, Chief Exectutive of The Commonwealth Games. 

The exhibition 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 exhibition, Dewars has enjoyed a month of visitors and will see their part in the tour draw to a close on 26th June.

The public can follow the exhibition on social media using #HostsandChampions. Live Active Leisure is encouraging those people visiting in Perth to photograph these iconic sporting artifacts and share via their own social media with the additional hashtag, #GamesAtDewars. 

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