Latest news with #Glasgow
BBC News
44 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Glasgow Commonwealth Games mascot Finnie officially unveiled
A unicorn named Finnie - with a traffic cone for a horn - has been unveiled as the official mascot for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The character made her first official appearance at the city's famous Finnieston Crane at dawn to mark 365 days until the start of the games. She was designed with the help of school children from Glasgow and replaces Clyde the Thistle who was the mascot for the last Glasgow Games in horn is a take on the famous traffic cone placed on top of the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow city centre. Glasgow is hosting a cut-down version of the Commonwealth Games next year after the Australian state of Victoria backed out for financial reasons. It will feature 10 sports taking place across four venues in the city from 23 July to 2 August 2026. The Finnieston Crane, where Finnie made her first appearance, and the Duke of Wellington statue with a traffic cone on its head are both iconic Glasgow also has a silver flash in her shoes, in homage to the city's shipbuilding history, star-spangled arms in a nod to the Barrowland Ballroom and a flowing purple mane inspired by the lights that shine on The Hydro venue at night. In a statement released on her behalf, the mascot said: "I'll be at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games next summer with a grin, a wave, maybe even a wee dance. "I'm here to turn the nerves into excitement, stir the cheers and help turn every moment into something magic as Glasgow 2026 swings into the city."Finnie will attend a number of events on Wednesday to mark the one-year countdown to the games, meeting athletes including 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan and Olympic medallist Eilidh Doyle as well as First Minister John Swinney. Glasgow 2026 chief executive Phil Batty said: "Finnie represents everything Glasgow 2026 is about – fun, friendliness and of course that little bit of magic! "She'll be at the heart of everything that's exciting about these Games, from building up the crowd to hyping the athletes."
BBC News
an hour ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
M77 motorway closed after one-car crash near Newton Mearns
A motorway near Glasgow has been closed in both directions for several hours following a single-vehicle crash. Police Scotland said one car was involved in the incident at about 00: M77 is shut between junction five at Newton Mearns, close to where the crash happened, and junction eight at Fenwick. Police have advised drivers to avoid the area.
ABC News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Australia given Commonwealth Games boots with Gout Gout intending to compete in Glasgow
Australia's chef de mission for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games has expressed her excitement that athletes want to compete next year in Scotland following Gout Gout's announced intention to race. Gout had initially been expected to prioritise the August 5-9 world junior titles in the United States, where he wants to emulate the great Usain Bolt, who won the under-20 200-metre title back in 2002. But Gout is now set to contest the Commonwealth 100m event in Glasgow, before heading to the US for the 200m at the world juniors. Petria Thomas, Australia's Glasgow 2026 chef de mission, told ABC Sport: "It's very exciting when our best athletes publicly announce their intention to be at the Games." "There is of course qualification processes that all of our athletes will need to go through, a lot can happen in the year leading into a Games," Thomas said. "It's really exciting that the athletes are saying they want to compete in the Games and we're looking forward to having our best athletes possible on our team ready to go in a year's time." Gout is in line to do something Bolt never did by running as an individual at the Commonwealth Games. The Jamaican legend was part of his country's gold medal-winning 4x100m men's relay team at Glasgow 2014. Gout's participation will further boost Australia's hopes of again topping the medal tally, which it has done in eight of the last nine Games dating back to 1990. Glasgow's pared-down Games will feature 10 sports, nine less than in 2022 in Birmingham. Sports which Australia has traditionally dominated such as hockey, rugby sevens and diving have been axed from the games. But 82 per cent of the nation's medal events in Birmingham 2022 remain on the Glasgow program. Commonwealth Games Australia boss Craig Phillips told AAP that despite the condensed program, Australia still has ambitions to stay atop the medal tally in Scotland. "We have ambitions to remain top of the medal tally, which is a stated ambition of ours all the time," Phillips said. "We really think that our athletes can do that. What that number takes, it will take. "But we're pretty confident that we'll put our athletes in the best possible position to do that." ABC/AAP
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australia buoyed by Gout's Commonwealth Games signal
Commonwealth Games Australia boss Craig Phillips is thrilled the biggest rising star in Australian sport will be part of the team that is set to yet again top the medal tally in Glasgow. One year out from the 2026 Games - to be staged in Glasgow after Victoria's government reneged on hosting - teenaged sprint sensation Gout Gout's intent to participate has buoyed Australian officials. "Gout Gout's indicated he's coming, which is fantastic to see his interest in coming to the Games," Phillips said on Wednesday. "There's a bit to go obviously in terms of selection processes and all that, but he is an absolutely exciting young talent. "So to see him as part of our Commonwealth Games team alongside great athletes from across our sports is going to be fantastic." Gout had initially been expected to prioritise the August 5-9 world junior titles in the United States, where he wants to emulate the great Usain Bolt, who won the under-20 200m title back in 2002. But Gout is now set to contest the Commonwealth 100m event in Glasgow, before heading to the US for the 200m at the world juniors. "We know the 100 is early enough in the program that he can do both the Commonwealth Games and then the juniors coming in soon thereafter." Phillips said. Gout is in line to do something Bolt never did by running as an individual at the Commonwealth Games. The Jamaican legend was part of his country's gold medal-winning 4x100m men's relay team at Glasgow 2014. Gout's participation will further boost Australia's hopes of again topping the medal tally, which they have done in eight of the last nine Games dating back to 1990. Glasgow's pared-down Games will feature 10 sports, nine less than in 2022 in Birmingham. Sports which Australia tends to dominate at Commonwealth level such as hockey, rugby sevens and diving have been axed. But 82 per cent of the nation's medal events in Birmingham remain on the Glasgow program. "We have ambitions to remain top of the medal tally, which is a stated ambition of ours all the time," Phillips said. "We really think that our athletes can do that. What that number takes, it will take. "But we're pretty confident that we'll put our athletes in the best possible position to do that."
Finextra
7 hours ago
- Business
- Finextra
Lloyds signs for NCR Atleos ATMaaS tech
NCR Atleos Corporation (NYSE: NATL) ('Atleos'), a leader in expanding self-service financial access for financial institutions, retailers and consumers, today announced that Lloyds Banking Group has chosen Atleos' ATM as a Service (ATMaaS) proposition and latest technology, to introduce exciting branch modernization into its Manchester and Glasgow flagship locations. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Lloyds Banking Group is the largest UK-based retail and commercial financial services provider. Aiming to innovate their branch experience and boost efficiencies, the bank engaged established partner NCR Atleos for an initial 'innovation branch' pilot in Manchester and Glassgow, introducing the latest Atleos recycling technology, including coin in and coin out functionality, transaction processing and engineering services. With this initiative, branch colleagues will no longer be required to maintain any element of the ATM, allowing them to spend more time engaging customers and strengthening relationships. 'We have enjoyed collaborating with NCR for over 20 years, during which time they've proven to be a reliable, responsive and innovative partner, which is why we chose to work with NCR Atleos for the next phase of our branch modernization programme test proof of concepts,' explained Clare Buckley, Branch Transformation Product Owner, for Lloyds Banking Group. 'With NCR Atleos' end to end service proposition, note and coin technology, we will be able to reduce traffic for the counter service, freeing employee time for meaningful customer interactions. We are confident that these efforts will allow us to enhance the branch experience and increase operational efficiencies.' The experts at NCR Atleos will manage hardware, software, logical security, installation, maintenance, cash forecasting and processing for these key strategic locations. This will allow the bank to optimize availability while more quickly implementing new features and functionality. 'As a financial services leader, Lloyds Banking Group understands the importance of embracing innovation to stay competitive and meet evolving customer needs. We are proud to be chosen to support the next phase of their branch transformation strategy,' said Diego Navarrete, Executive Vice President, Global Sales for NCR Atleos. 'With these strategic pilots, Lloyds Banking Group will be able to reduce back-office complexities while also providing more innovative, robust self-service experiences. These initiatives will allow the bank to better, more efficiently serve customers while also expanding access to cash and other critical financial services.'
