Commonwealth Games

COMMONWEALTH GAMES GLASGOW 2014 With over 4,000 athletes taking part, the Commonwealth Games is one of the biggest international events in the sporting calendar- and this year Glasgow plays host. After the success of the London Olympics in 2012, people across Scotland are understandably excited to have 'the Friendly Games' on their doorstep. The Games features 21 sports, including athletics, swimming and cycling, while the 71 participating teams are all part of the Commonwealth of Nations (mostly former territories of the British Empire). Unlike in the Olympics, the Home Nations compete as separate teams. Here's our lowdown on some of the longest-serving Commonwealth competitors: ATHLETE TO WATCH NATIONAL DISH FOOTWEAR FACT MUST-SEE LANDMARKS AUSTRALIA (FIRST APPEARANCE - 1930) 101 Swimmer Alicia Coutts A leg of roast lamb won five gold medals at the last Commonwealth Games, and will be confident of adding to that tally ENGLAND (FIRST APPEARANCE -1911) Australian-style UGG boots first became popular in the 1960s when they, along with rippedjeans, were banned from cinemas. Young people began to wear the boots as a sign of rebellion! Bradley Wiggins- After being omitted from this year's Tour De France squad, cyclist Wiggins returns to the track looking to win his first ever Commonwealth gold medal. Everyone's favourite, fish and chips! Sydney Harbour, Ayers Rock, Great Barrier Reef The world's first ladies' boots were designed for Queen Victoria in 1840 Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Stonehenge INDIA (FIRST APPEARANCE -1934) There are regional Badminton ace Saina Nehwal will look to add to her 2010 Commonwealth Gold in the women's singles variations, but curry and rice remains a favourite JAMAICA (FIRST APPEARANCE -1934) Usain Bolt will only compete in the 4x100m relay, but he is the fastest man in the world, and remains a crowd favourite Ackee (a sweet fruit) and saltfish James Syiemiong of India designed the shoes with the tallest heel in the world, a whopping 51cm! Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid Bizarrely, Clarks shoes are extremely popular with the reggae market in Jamaica. Rapper Vybz Kartel even released a single in 2010 with the lyrics "Everybody haffi ask weh mi get mi Clarks" Dunn's River Falls, Nine Miles NEW ZEALAND (FIRST APPEARANCE -1930) Bacon and egg pie Andrea Hewitt represents the best hope for an individual Kiwi medal, in the triathlon New Zealand fashion N.IRELAND (FIRST APPEARANCE -1934) designer Kathryn Wilson holds the crown of the most expensive high heel in the world, with her 'Diamond Shoes', that cost £500,000 at a charity auction. Boxer Paddy Barnes won gold in the light flyweight category in 2010, while he also has two Olympic bronze medals Ulster Fry, a full breakfast including sausage, egg, bacon and mushrooms. Sky Tower, The Beehive Nike once released a pair of trainers to commemorate St Patrick's Day and popular drink Guinness Giant's Causeway, Stormont House SINGAPORE (FIRST APPEARANCE -1958) Gao Ning is the highest-ranked player in the men's table tennis Chilli crab or Hainanese chicken rice You don't need to worry about getting gum on the bottom of your shoe in Singapore - it is illegal, and chewing it can land you a $500 fine SCOTLAND (FIRST APPEARANCE – 193O) Glasgow-born swimmer Michael Jamieson broke the British record three times on his way to silver in the 200 metre breast- stroke in London Marina Bay, Singapore Flyer Haggis, minced mutton traditionally encased in stomach skin Modern brogue shoes trace their roots to a rudimental shoe worn in Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, Glasgow Cathedral Scotland (and Ireland) that had holes in the leather to allow water to escape when crossing wet terrain such as a bog SOUTH AFRICA (FIRST APPEARANCE – 1911) Golden boy Chad le Clos is only 22 years old but already an Olympic, World & Commonwealth champion Bobotie, spiced minced beef with an egg-based topping If you ever visit the Abel Erasmus Pass in WALES (FIRST APPEARANCE – 1930) Mpumalanga, keep an eye out for the unique guest house, which is built in the shape of a shoe Table Mountain, Robben Island Team Wales' captain Aled Davies is likely to be hot favourite when Cawl, a traditional Welsh broth he competes in the F42 discus. In May 2014, 'outdoorist' Lynne Allbutt completed a 51 mile run that stretched the width of Wales - and she did it Cardiff Bay, Mt Snowdon, Caernarfon Castle barefoot! AND FINALLY... In the 1954 Vancouver Games, athlete Yvette Williams set a record by winning gold in both the discus and long jump - at the same time! Having already taken the gold in the shot put, Williams then had to compete in the delayed discus event and the long-jump, each taking place on opposite sides of the stadium simultaneously. 12 trips and 11 shoe changes – from discus-throwing shoes to long jump spikes - later, she took home the gold in both events! Wow! SOURCES http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/he-invented-the-ugg-boot-but-all-he-got-was-10000-and-three-110243 http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=141906 http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/sep/11shoe.htm http://metro.co.uk/2010/07/07/vybz-kartel-rap-leads-to-booming-clarks-shoes-sales-in-jamaica-439321/ http://www.refinery29.com/2013/03/45008/worlds-most-expensive-shoes-kathryn-wilson http://hypebeast.com/2012/2/nike-sb-dunk-high-guinness http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gum_ban_in_Singapore http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brogues https://plus.google.com/115478856035563825431/posts/W1B5DzNKcdp http://www.allbuttshoes.com/ http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/10283793/A-wealth-of-knowledge