NEW DELHI: As the Commonwealth Games flag was lowered on Thursday and passed on to the next hosts, Glasgow, the Scots put on a show that gave a glimpse of their homeland. It was all brought to life during the closing ceremony by 352 Scots drawn from the many walks of life and from the length and breadth of the country. From its villages in the Outer Herbides, from the towns in the Borders and from the communities that form the city of Glasgow.
After the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Winter, received the flag and welcomed all to his city in 2014 came a short film that showed the lochs, hills and glens of Scotland. It also portrayed Glasgow's iconic landmarks - including Whitlee Windfarm, Nelson's Monument, River Clyde and the Clyde Arc Bridge.
Merging with the end of the film, a lone piper in a vibrant modern kilt appeared at the centre of the stadium and began to play and the music intensified with each step. The Highland Charge followed with the 352 performers, dressed in tartan kilts, charging towards the piper. The performers then mesmerised the capacity crowd as huge red tartan cloths unfurled creating a labyrinth. A second piper appeared diagonally opposite the original one and the tartans turned into a green maze and created dynamic sequences, including a depiction of the Scottish flag.
Giant inflated structures resembling the Arc Bridge and the eight arches came together to form the armadillo-shaped Clyde Auditorium, which sits on the banks of River Clyde. The Armadillo, managed by 80 people, then spun on is axis to again release the cast members who formed a Celtic knot, ancient decorative symbols. The armadillo then dispersed to form the Loch Ness monster which left wagging its tail.
Fact box
* 1.8 km of tartan fabric were used to create the costumes
* 30.5m was the length of the inflatable armadilloAfter the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Winter, received the flag and welcomed all to his city in 2014 came a short film that showed the lochs, hills and glens of Scotland. It also portrayed Glasgow's iconic landmarks - including Whitlee Windfarm, Nelson's Monument, River Clyde and the Clyde Arc Bridge.
Merging with the end of the film, a lone piper in a vibrant modern kilt appeared at the centre of the stadium and began to play and the music intensified with each step. The Highland Charge followed with the 352 performers, dressed in tartan kilts, charging towards the piper. The performers then mesmerised the capacity crowd as huge red tartan cloths unfurled creating a labyrinth. A second piper appeared diagonally opposite the original one and the tartans turned into a green maze and created dynamic sequences, including a depiction of the Scottish flag.
Giant inflated structures resembling the Arc Bridge and the eight arches came together to form the armadillo-shaped Clyde Auditorium, which sits on the banks of River Clyde. The Armadillo, managed by 80 people, then spun on is axis to again release the cast members who formed a Celtic knot, ancient decorative symbols. The armadillo then dispersed to form the Loch Ness monster which left wagging its tail.
Fact box
* 1.8 km of tartan fabric were used to create the costumes
* Jonathan Graham and Craig Muirhead, the two hero pipers, were selected after a rigorous audition process that also involved the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
TOI
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