16/07/2014

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Caravan the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

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Chris Hoy Velodrome Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Gym and badminton at Glasgow Commonwealth Games

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Commonwealth Games in Glasgow sees 70 countries compete over a sensational 11 days of sport from 23 July. It doesn't even matter if you don't have a ticket. As with London 2012, the incredible atmosphere will spread far beyond the sports stadiums, and you can share in the excitement and Games ambience, just by being in the city.

Let the Games begin!

Cycling

The Velodrome will see some of the world’s fastest track cyclists converge to compete over 12 events for national and individual accolades.

The track event is the most costly of the cycling disciplines, due to its popularity. This furious cat and mouse game will leave the audience on the edge of their seats. The Road Race and Time Trial events take place along the open roads of Glasgow. The cyclists will follow a route taking in many tourist locations – but don’t expect Bradley Wiggins to slow down for a photo of those famous sideburns!

The Mountain Bike events take place in the purpose-built cross-country course within Cathkin Braes Country Park. Spectators can enjoy the sweeping views of Glasgow as cyclists navigate the precarious rocky terrain of this challenging course.

Aquatics

As a core sport of the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014 will feature both swimming and diving, including all-male and all-female competitions. The atmosphere promises to be electric, and visitors will shout themselves hoarse… especially before Tom Daley dives.

Judo

This sport is relatively new to the Commonwealth Games, returning for the first time in 11 years. The aim of the game is to immobilise or throw your opponent to the ground to earn points. The UK’s participants are particularly strong contenders in this sport.

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Athletics

World-class athletes will be competing to run faster, jump higher and throw further. Over seven days of Track, Field and Marathon will take place at Hampden Park.

Triathlon

For the first time in the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow will be holding a mixed-sex relay race. The triathlon will take place in Strathclyde Country Park on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Squash

Squash was introduced to the games in 1998. England and Australia have battled it out each time to be crowned champs.

Boxing

Again, Glasgow has taken the sporting lead adding a new twist to its Games. For the very first time there will be women’s boxing including three different disciplines – Flyweight, Lightweight and Middleweight –over four, two-minute rounds.

During eight days of competition, as per tradition, men in 10 weight categories will box over three rounds to find the champion.

Hockey

10 countries take part in the men’s and women’s competitions at the Glasgow Games. Before a country has a chance at winning gold, it must succeed in defeating the opposing countries in the same pool during the preliminary rounds.

Australia, I am loathed to say, has won the men’s each time since the sport’s introduction to the Games in 1998.

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Lawn bowls

Lawn bowls is strongly represented across the nations with a fairly diverse spread of medal recipients. No contender has a monopoly over the sport – there is all to play for.

Shooting

Countries can compete in any of the three shooting disciplines: Clay Target, Full Bore and Pistol and Small Bore.

Netball

Twelve competing nations: One medal.

Table tennis

Table tennis has only appeared at the games for the past 11 years, but Singapore has materialised as the consistent winning team.

Wrestling

With 14 medals up for grabs, many athletes have a chance of winning. However, this isn’t a simple case of strength: athletes need to focus to dominate their opponent. Canada has led the freestyle discipline of this sport for many years.

Rugby Sevens

As the title suggests, Rugby Sevens is a game of two teams of seven humungous men working together to defend and attack, and more importantly win in 14 minutes. This year is particularly special as its each country’s chance to test out their players against opponents before they face them again at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games, where Rugby Sevens is set to make its first appearance at the Olympics.

The obvious contenders are England, Australia and Africa who are yet to knock New Zealand off the top spot.

Badminton

Badminton will feature on all 11 days of the Games with both single and doubles games at the Emirate Arena. The sport is traditionally dominated by England and Malaysia.

Gymnastics

By far one of the most demanding sports: athletes need to be completely focused and confident in their own strength and timing if they are to win gold. Glasgow2014 will showcase two of the gymnastics disciplines – Artistic and Rhythmic. Men and women can participate in the first but only female athletes can in the latter. With a variety of apparatus, there are many medals up for grabs.

Weightlifting

Men and women will prove their ultimate strength in according to 15 pre-determined body-weight categories.

No ticket needed

There are three disciplines that you can view free of charge. These are: the Marathon, Road Race Cycling and Time Trial.

The Marathon route sees athletes start and finish in Glasgow Green and run through the city centre and southern areas, past popular landmarks such as George Square and Buchanan Street. The cyclists can be seen blitzing past the city’s most famous tourist monuments.

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