Latest news with #GlasgowGames
Glasgow Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow pupils run marathon to help school 'upgrade' play areas
The 21 children, all aged between seven and eight, completed the challenge at Scotstoun Stadium, where the athletics events for the 2026 Glasgow Games will be held. Organised by a group of parents, the event aimed to support the West End school's efforts to upgrade its outdoor spaces and play areas. Roar Norman warming up (Image: Hillhead Primary) Despite the warm weather, the children ran more than 100 laps of the stadium, each covering an average of four laps (1.31 miles), contributing to the total marathon distance of 26.2 miles. They completed the challenge in 28 minutes. Isla Bradley, seven, said: "It was very fun and exciting, especially because I was doing it with my friends and we raised lots and lots of money for the school." Manus Scullion running (Image: Hillhead Primary) Rebecca Honeybunn, one of the organisers, added: "The kids did an amazing job completing the challenge, and we're incredibly grateful for the support from parents and the local community, including Scotstoun Stadium. They absolutely smashed their target, so they should all be very proud." READ NEXT: 'Car crash TV': Glasgow designer on her painful exit from hit BBC show 'It was the end of blackouts and air raids and fear' as Glasgow marked VE Day 'Fantastic work': School near Glasgow given high praise by inspectors Andrew Robson, headteacher of Hillhead Primary, which has around 600 pupils, said: "This is a fundraising initiative that has been driven by the pupils themselves, and we are extremely proud of all of them. "Their original target was £500 so to have increased their target to an incredible £1500 is wonderful. "Our Primary 3s were very clear, they would like the funds to go towards purchasing playground equipment and improving our play spaces and this will benefit all our pupils." Lap counting (Image: Hillhead Primary) He added: "I'd like to thank the parents and carers who have worked so hard and supported their children to complete such a successful fundraising campaign on behalf of our school." Ahead of their efforts, the kids also received a very special message of support from double Commonwealth gold medal champion Eilish McColgan, European record holder for the 10km road race, and the British record holder for the 5000m, 10000m and half marathon. Eilish, who is in Japan at the moment, congratulated the children on taking on a "monstrous challenge" and wished them good luck. Donations will be accepted until the end of the month via the event's Just Giving page.
Glasgow Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
This Glasgow park will have a cinema and live music this summer
The open-air amphitheatre in Glasgow's Southside will host a month-long celebration of culture, community, and connection. The Queens Park Arena's 2025 summer programme will run from July 3 to August 3, with the majority of its events set to be free or donation-based. Read more: Glasgow's unsung WWII heroes honoured for bravery The annual summer series, produced by Inhouse Event Solutions CIC, is expected to attract more than 45,000 visitors this year. The programme will include cinema, creative arts, early years activities, live music, sports, and more. The full schedule is available to view online, with tickets available to be booked at At the heart of this year's programme, the popular Cults & Classics cinema strand will return, featuring 31 open-air screenings, including 15 family matinees, four 12+ family evening shows, and 12 18+ cult favourites and blockbusters. The first week of evening films will include Forrest Gump, Silence of the Lambs, The Matrix, and Dirty Dancing, while the matinees will feature family classics such as Frozen, Alice in Wonderland, WALL-E, and Matilda. For families looking to keep children entertained during the summer, Big Fun will return with 15 early years sessions, two kids' discos, and creative activities such as dance, storytelling, music, and movement. Moreover, Open Stage will host 15 free creative arts workshops, open to all ages and abilities, plus two flagship events - the Glasgow Choir Festival and the Scottish Annual Hip Hop Jam. Community wellbeing will also be front and centre this year through Glasgow Games, with 15 free family fitness classes in disciplines such as Muay Thai, dance fitness, and yoga, alongside two major live sports screenings, and the introduction of the Glasgow Games 5k race in association with Parkrun. In addition, this year's programme will see a boost in ticketed larger-scale commercial events, with a new series of QPA Live music and comedy shows happening across key weekends. Read more: David Attenborough and Eurovision to hit big screen at Glasgow cinema Chet Capkiner, founding director of Inhouse Event Solutions CIC, said: "This summer, we're building on everything our audiences love from cult cinema and creative workshops to live music and grassroots culture. "We're especially proud that most of our events remain completely free or donation-based, ensuring the programme is accessible to as many people as possible. "I'm also very excited to bring back larger-scale live music gigs to the arena this year for the first time since 2017, I can't wait to welcome everyone back this year."
RNZ News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Former Blues and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Bryce Heem retires
Blues players Harry Plummer and Bryce Heem (R) meet supporters after victory in the Super Rugby Pacific Final. 2024. Photo: Photosport / David Rowland Former Blues, All Blacks Sevens and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Bryce Heem has announced his retirement from rugby. He was part of the Blues title winning side in 2024 and re-signed with the team for this year, but last November he was ruled out of the entire 2025 Super Rugby season with a wrist injury. Bryce Heem (R) with his Blues teammates. Photo: Photosport / Andrew Cornaga He has now called time on his career. The 36-year-old played 42 games for the Blues in a first-class career that began in 2010 and started with the Auckland NPC side and then the All Blacks Sevens the following year. A wing or centre Heem also played for the Chiefs, Worcester Warriors, and Toulon. He played the majority of his NPC rugby for his home province of Auckland with other stints at Northland and Tasman. He won a Commonwealth Games silver medal with the New Zealand men's Sevens team at the 2014 Glasgow Games. He scored nine tries in his four seasons with the Blues. "It's been an incredible ride," Heem said. "When I look back on my career, it's the people I've met and the memories I've made that stand out the most. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have represented several teams on my journey and to finish here at the Blues and winning a championship last season was something special." "I want to make special mention of my wife Jocelyn for supporting me through this entire journey. She's been my rock, holding it all down at home so I could focus on doing what I love. Without her, none of this would have been possible." Bryce Heem playing for Auckland. Photo: Photosport / Andrew Cornaga Heem, known as 'Uncle' by his Blues teammates, is changing careers and becoming a mortgage broker. "I'd like to extend my sincere thanks to the entire Blues organisation - the coaches, staff, and everyone who's played some part in my career," Heem said. "You've all played a huge role in making this such a special time in my life. I've learned so much and will be forever grateful for your belief in me." "A special shout-out to the medical staff, you've worked wonders on my body as I've gotten older, and I'm sure you'll be relieved I won't be calling on your services quite as often in the future." Heem said not playing would take some getting used to. "It's definitely a bit weird watching the Blues run out onto Eden Park this season. I've spent so many years playing with these guys, and formed such deep connections with many of them. But that's life, time moves on and to be honest I don't miss the running sessions one bit."
The Guardian
16-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Seven countries in running for hosting future Commonwealth Games
Seven countries have expressed interest in hosting future Commonwealth Games. Five of those are focused on staging the centenary 2030 Games while two are looking at editions of the multi-sport event beyond that, Commonwealth Sport has announced. The expressions of interest come from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, which mean Glasgow's hosting of the 2026 Games may signal a break of well over a decade before the UK hosts again, with Britain having hosted two of the last three editions. The seven bidding countries are a boost to the Commonwealth Games movement, with the whole concept having come under scrutiny after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as next year's hosts. Canada, India and Nigeria make up three of the five parties interested in 2030, while New Zealand is targeting the 2034 Games. Commonwealth Sport has not confirmed which future Games beyond 2030 that the other future bidder is looking at. All of the bids are single rather than multi-country and decisions around whether multiple cities within a country will host will be made when the bid delegations hold talks with Commonwealth Sport to discuss hosting plans. Core sports including athletics and swimming must be included in the programmes but future hosts will be afforded greater flexibility, with the optimal number of sports set to be around 15. Hosts will also be encouraged to utilise existing facilities to reduce costs wherever possible. Future Games must also maintain the full commitment to providing a level playing field for para and non-para sport. Bidders for 2030 will now be expected to set out detailed hosting proposals before Commonwealth Sport leads an evaluation of those bids. The Commonwealth Sport executive board will then make a recommendation for a preferred host, subject to approval by its general assembly at a meeting in Glasgow in late November. Commonwealth Sport chief executive Katie Sadleir welcomed the 'incredible interest' shown in hosting and again praised Glasgow for stepping forward to host in 2026, saying the city had set a 'pioneering example' for future hosts. The Glasgow Games will feature 10 sports staged at four venues within an eight-mile corridor.
