May 13 - Gibraltar’s Olympian Sends a Message to Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Games
During the visit of the Queen’s Baton, Gibraltar’s first Olympian Georgina Cassar signed the 33Fifty Baton Book for Gibraltar at the Convent. There she met the Governor, Patron of the Gibraltar Commonwealth Games Association, and spoke of the importance to Gibraltar of being part of the Commonwealth family.
Georgina's message said, ‘I would like to express how grateful we are to be the citizens of the Commonwealth. This gives us, including the athletes of Gibraltar, a chance to compete and unite with so many other countries and athletes in a friendly yet competitive atmosphere. Good luck to all in Glasgow.’
Along its route, the Baton Book was signed by inspirational young people who took the opportunity to highlight current challenges faced by the younger generations in their respective regions, and throughout the broader Commonwealth.
‘When nations cooperate with one another on an equal playing field, it is the citizens of those nations who benefit. The Commonwealth, as a group of diverse and culturally rich states, has the potential to empower and unify populations across the globe through our common historical narrative.’
The Baton Book’s voyage throughout Commonwealth countries has been an amazing experience for all involved, giving the younger and older generations of the Commonwealth a platform to unite and highlight key challenges to be discussed and resolved.
33% of the world’s population lives in the Commonwealth and 50% of those are under 25. The Baton Book is part of 33Fifty, a leadership programme for Commonwealth citizens aged between 18 and 25 run by the Royal Commonwealth Society and Common Purpose. It aims to develop young leaders who bring people together, reconcile difference and lead change.
The Baton Book is an opportunity for one young person from each country or territory the baton visits to send a message to Glasgow 2014, in particular to the participants of the 33Fifty programme that will take place prior to the Games. See www.33fifty.org .
Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Michael Lake, said, “On its return to Glasgow, having travelled 190,000 kilometres across the Commonwealth, the Baton Book will contain messages from 70 young people spanning six continents. Not only is the book a wonderful expression of Commonwealth citizenship, but it’s an opportunity for young people to highlight the issues that are important to them as part of the most high profile event in the Commonwealth calendar – the Commonwealth Games.”
CEO of Common Purpose Charitable Trust, Julia Middleton added, ‘If fifty percent of the Commonwealth's population is under 25, that’s over 1 billion people. I sometimes wonder what proportion of the Commonwealth’s leaders are over 55. I hope that this book - as its travels across the Commonwealth with the Queen’s Baton - will give that younger fifty percent more of a voice for people like me to hear.’
