The 2014 Commonwealth Games (July 23 - August 3)

Skid X · 23-07-2014 12:34pm #1

4,560 Athletes from 71 Countries are in Glasgow to participate in 17 different Sports, in the third largest multi-sport event in the World (after the Olympics and the Asian Games).

The Republic of Ireland doesn't compete, because we aren't in the Commonwealth, but Northern Ireland have a 117 strong team making the short trip to Scotland. Some of them are potential Rio 2014 Team Ireland participants, including

Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlon, Steven Ward, Steven Donnelly (Boxing)
Martyn Irvine, Sean Downey, Philip Lavery (Cycling)
Aileen Reid (Triathlon)
Lisa Kearney (Judo)
Jason Smyth (Athletics)
Sycerika McMahon (Swimming)

Martyn Smyth will carry the Northern Ireland flag at the Opening Ceremony.

There is blanket TV coverage across the BBC every day, the Opening Ceremony is on BBC1 tonight (Wednesday) at 8pm.

KevIRL · 23-07-2014 7:03pm

Really feel we are missing a trick by not competing or requesting to be allowed compete at these.

breffni bogballer · 23-07-2014 8:59pm

would rep of ire actually win any medals at this considering the north would have first pick on most of the boxers and irvine in cycling

Skid X · 23-07-2014 9:25pm

breffni bogballer wrote: »

would rep of ire actually win any medals at this considering the north would have first pick on most of the boxers and irvine in cycling

True enough, a lot of our potential medal talent is based in the North at the moment.

But Womens Boxing is a new addition to these games, I reckon Katie Taylor just might squeeze in the medals! Also, Rob Heffernan and a few other athletes, and some boxers from the Republic would do well.

North v South boxing contests would be tasty.

Lapin · 23-07-2014 9:29pm

The Queen in Celtic Park standing for God Save The Queen.

I've often stood there too and heard lots of other songs about her there. :pac:

Skid X · 23-07-2014 9:39pm

I remember the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games when more than half of the Countries boycotted because of Thatcher's appeasement of South Africa.

In some events there were only three competitors, and only the winner got a medal. Boycotts were all too common in the eighties, hopefully we won't see them again.

Lapin · 23-07-2014 9:49pm

We started all that lark Skid when we boycotted the 1936 Olympics.

breffni bogballer · 23-07-2014 9:49pm

Skid X wrote: »

True enough, a lot of our potential medal talent is based in the North at the moment.

But Womens Boxing is a new addition to these games, I reckon Katie Taylor just might squeeze in the medals! Also, Rob Heffernan and a few other athletes, and some boxers from the Republic would do well.

North v South boxing contests would be tasty.

north v south could make a good charity night,forgot about katie,is there walking at this?

Beasty · 23-07-2014 9:57pm

Heading over tomorrow, catching the track cycling Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Irvine told me he's probably only going to do the Scratch and Points races - tried to convince him to do the pursuit as well - given Wiggins is giving that one a miss I think he would be an outside medal chance in that one) as well as the Rugby 7s over the weekend, finishing off with some athletics on Monday

Was in Manchester in 2002 - it's a fabulous event - much more laid back than the Olympics, but everyone really enjoys themselves (spectators and athletes)

Skid X · 23-07-2014 9:58pm

breffni bogballer wrote: »

north v south could make a good charity night,forgot about katie,is there walking at this?

I assumed there was, but I'm wrong.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/athletics/commonwealth-games-chiefs-drop-johanna-1727200

There were Walking events in 2010, and there will be in 2018 but for some reason Glasgow didn't include it in their programme. Strange.

Beasty · 23-07-2014 10:03pm

Walking events close city roads for the day - I suspect they decided just to have such an event, the marathon, once (both men's and women's are taking place on Sunday)

breffni bogballer · 23-07-2014 10:10pm

i"d blame The Proclaimers,everyone thought it would be 500 miles !!!!

Lapin · 23-07-2014 10:47pm

Oh Jesus Christ those Scottish uniforms. :eek:

No wonder they didn't want to come out of the tunnel.

efb · 23-07-2014 11:27pm

Bizzare watching this is like the B Olympics

Lapin · 23-07-2014 11:35pm

If it wasn't for Chris Hoy, poor Imran would still be trying to open that yoke and Queenie would have to go ahead with her speech from memory

Skid X · 23-07-2014 11:40pm

Lapin wrote: »

If it wasn't for Chris Hoy, poor Imran would still be trying to open that yoke and Queenie would have to go ahead with her speech from memory

Yeah, that was awkward, he'll probably get promoted from Sir Chris to Lord Hoy for his quick thinking!

feargale · 24-07-2014 12:52am

KevIRL wrote: »

Really feel we are missing a trick by not competing or requesting to be allowed compete at these.

Quiz: In what year did Ireland ( not Northern Ireland ) compete at these games?

Lapin · 24-07-2014 1:21am

1911

feargale · 24-07-2014 1:44am

Lapin wrote: »

1911

Commonwealth Games, not Empire Games,

efb · 24-07-2014 6:55am

1930?

Beasty · 24-07-2014 8:24am

efb wrote: »

1930?

They were the first ones, so I would hazard a guess at 1930 also, but could have been 1934

Beasty · 24-07-2014 8:30am

feargale wrote: »

Commonwealth Games, not Empire Games,

1911 was not the "Empire Games", it was simply part of a wider event to celebrate the coronation of George V

It only became the "Commonwealth Games" in 1978, having been the "British Empire Games" between 1930 and 1950 and then the "British Commonwealth Games"

Cosmo Kramer · 24-07-2014 10:20am

Heading to the athletics at Hampden on Wednesday night, looking forward to it as I didn't get to London two years ago. It is a shame that we don't compete as there would be plenty of medals to be won and finals to be reached by athletes who might not have much chance at the Olympics - the standard in some events is relatively weak.

Another issue is that Irish athletes often struggle with the pressure of the Olympics on their first visit and under perform - the Commonwealth Games would be a great introduction to multi-sport events for Irish athletes as the general setup (athletes village, opening ceremony etc.) is similar to the Olympics.

Ron DMC · 24-07-2014 11:00am

Women's triathlon about to start. Looks like savage weather for the swim, they aren't even using wetsuits - should result in quicker transitions.

Skid X · 24-07-2014 1:39pm

Ron DMC wrote: »

Women's triathlon about to start. Looks like savage weather for the swim, they aren't even using wetsuits - should result in quicker transitions.

Looked like a good race. Aileen Reid finished 6th for NI. She was in the lead group heading into the run but she was dropped.

feargale · 24-07-2014 2:44pm

Beasty wrote: »

They were the first ones, so I would hazard a guess at 1930 also, but could have been 1934

1930 is correct. I don't know how Ireland fared. I believe Ireland's declining to compete in 1934 was a significant ingredient in all the controversy at that time which culminated in Ireland's absence from Berlin 1936.

Ron DMC · 24-07-2014 2:59pm

Skid X wrote: »

Looked like a good race. Aileen Reid finished 6th for NI. She was in the lead group heading into the run but she was dropped.

Yeah, tough finish, they all seemed pretty wrecked by the end of the run.

Ron DMC · 24-07-2014 4:52pm

The Brownlee brothers just destroyed the rest of the field in the Men's Tri. They are absolute machines!

KevIRL · 24-07-2014 8:26pm

First medal for N Ireland in the Judo, a bronze

The Rings The Flame · 25-07-2014 5:00pm

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Another issue is that Irish athletes often struggle with the pressure of the Olympics on their first visit and under perform - the Commonwealth Games would be a great introduction to multi-sport events for Irish athletes as the general setup (athletes village, opening ceremony etc.) is similar to the Olympics.

Maybe the introduction of the European Games next year should help to sort us out on that score.

feargale · 25-07-2014 10:50pm

Does anyone have a calendar of the athletics events? Thanks. Which other disciplines are world class? Thanks,

Richard · 26-07-2014 1:37am

breffni bogballer wrote: »

would rep of ire actually win any medals at this considering the north would have first pick on most of the boxers and irvine in cycling

In 1930 there was a single Irish team at the then Empire Games, despite NI and the Free State being seperate entities. So it could happen again if the republic rejoined the Commonwealth.

Kevhog1988 · 26-07-2014 4:11am

How do the likes of paddy barnes compete for ireland in the olympics and then compete for northern ireland in the commonwealth games?? Surely a guy who made no secret of wanting to carry the irish flag at the opening ceremony in London (Katie taylor carried it) has decided that he is irish and holds a irish passport rather than a British passport ??

The Lost Sheep · 26-07-2014 1:06pm

feargale wrote: »

Does anyone have a calendar of the athletics events? Thanks. Which other disciplines are world class? Thanks,

http://results.glasgow2014.com/sports/at/athletics.html
Work your way round that page and you should find schedule of events.
A lot of disciplines will be fairly full of world

theemigrant wrote: »

How do the likes of paddy barnes compete for ireland in the olympics and then compete for northern ireland in the commonwealth games?? Surely a guy who made no secret of wanting to carry the irish flag at the opening ceremony in London (Katie taylor carried it) has decided that he is irish and holds a irish passport rather than a British passport ??

He is Northern Irish and holds an Irish passport but he is from the north. Don't see anything wrong with him competing in both. There is several other athletes across all sports who do the same as Paddy Barnes.

breffni bogballer · 26-07-2014 8:53pm

Richard wrote: »

In 1930 there was a single Irish team at the then Empire Games, despite NI and the Free State being seperate entities. So it could happen again if the republic rejoined the Commonwealth.

highly unlikely, on a side note who is the female commentator on the judo? she is very excitable, she might be canadian

Richard · 26-07-2014 11:07pm

theemigrant wrote: »

How do the likes of paddy barnes compete for ireland in the olympics and then compete for northern ireland in the commonwealth games?? Surely a guy who made no secret of wanting to carry the irish flag at the opening ceremony in London (Katie taylor carried it) has decided that he is irish and holds a irish passport rather than a British passport ??

And there are people who feel more British than Irish that compete for Ireland at the Olympics. Competing for Northern Ireland doesn't make someone a unionist or feel British.

Kevhog1988 · 26-07-2014 11:24pm

Richard wrote: »

And there are people who feel more British than Irish that compete for Ireland at the Olympics. Competing for Northern Ireland doesn't make someone a unionist or feel British.

in the commonwealth games?? … where for citizenship you would have to swear allegiance to the queen……..

Paddy is a great little boxer though… i would say he is guaranteed a medal

Skid X · 26-07-2014 11:28pm

theemigrant wrote: »

in the commonwealth games?? … where for citizenship you would have to swear allegiance to the queen……..

Paddy is a great little boxer though… i would say he is guaranteed a medal

Northern Ireland citizens don't have to swear allegiance to anyone, they are fully entitled to represent both Ireland and Northern Ireland if that's how their Sport operates. They don't seek or require your approval to do so.

Kevhog1988 · 27-07-2014 3:24pm

Skid X wrote: »

Northern Ireland citizens don't have to swear allegiance to anyone, they are fully entitled to represent both Ireland and Northern Ireland if that's how their Sport operates. They don't seek or require your approval to do so.

i stand corrected.. i know for to gain citizenship of canada part of it mentions allegiance to the queen

efb · 27-07-2014 10:45pm

RSA beat NZ in the 7's!

But no Topless Haka

robinph · 28-07-2014 12:57pm

theemigrant wrote: »

in the commonwealth games?? … where for citizenship you would have to swear allegiance to the queen……..

Mozambique and Rwanda have never sworn any allegiance to the Queen, being former Portuguese and German/ Belgium colonies. They just asked to join.

Skid X · 28-07-2014 7:06pm

Paddy Barnes outclassed his opponent today, he must be a hot favourite to retain his Commonwealth title. The Northern Ireland Boxers should do well this week.

Richard · 28-07-2014 8:16pm

theemigrant wrote: »

i stand corrected.. i know for to gain citizenship of canada part of it mentions allegiance to the queen

Not if you are already a Canadian citizen, e.g. you were born there. If you want to become a British citizen you must swear allegiance to the Queen, but the vast majority of people born in NI are British Citizens by birth so they don't need to swear allegiance to anyone.

Even if they travel on an Irish passport and have never had a British one this wouldn't be a problem.

efb · 28-07-2014 9:46pm

Robbie Fowler's cousin boxing a Scot around the ring here

efb · 28-07-2014 9:55pm

Can't make out a word he's saying...

The Lost Sheep · 30-07-2014 12:43pm

What do people make of Usain Bolt's supposed comments on the games?

2 medals for Northern Ireland so far. Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlon should also medal.
How many more medals are NI likely to get in total?

Darkglasses · 30-07-2014 2:41pm

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

What do people make of Usain Bolt's supposed comments on the games?

2 medals for Northern Ireland so far. Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlon should also medal.
How many more medals are NI likely to get in total?

Usain's already denied saying it on twitter, I find it hard to believe myself.

efb · 30-07-2014 3:50pm

NI have 4 medals guaranteed in boxing as I type.

efb · 30-07-2014 3:56pm

efb · 30-07-2014 4:49pm

efb · 30-07-2014 4:57pm

4 m 2 f and 3 more chances of medals if my maths are correct!

The 2014 Commonwealth Games (July 23 - August 3)

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