For
those who are skeptical, even cynical, of the Games and the Baton Relay that
precedes them – those who only see cost and extravagance – I’d like
to tell you about one baton bearer I saw. Her name is Molly Robertson and, at
twenty past two this Friday afternoon, we were running late to film her section
of the relay. As we jogged up the road amidst crowds of people, camera aloft, we
just managed to capture a glimpse of the end of her run but in those few
minutes we saw all we needed to see. Molly is a student at a school in Dundee
and she was nominated by her school to carry the baton. As she carries the
baton along Johnston Avenue today, the look on her face says it all. Dozens of
people clapping and cheering, there for her and only her. Once she'd had her
picture taken with the baton, she received a bouquet of flowers. Now, a simple
bouquet of flowers seems so insignificant in the scheme of things, but from the
elation on this girl's face you could see that boquet was helping make this the
most special day of her life. It didn't cost anything for those people to be
there, clapping and cheering; for someone to hand her a bunch of flowers, but
it is a memory that will stay with Molly forever. A reason to come together, a
reason for people to unite, can never be something to be skeptical about.
Anyone who was following the Baton's progress in Dundee on the 27th June will know it finished up in the Square amidst excitement, entertainment and, most importantly, neighbourliness between residents, visitors, organisers and baton bearers alike. It was the culmination of everything that had been building throughout the day, from the inspiration being spread by the bearers to the generosity being shown by the volunteers, talented individuals showing off their learned skills, to the enthusiasm rarely seen on an average day from all the spectators. When it all came together it was awe inspiring - Dundee is really capable of all this? No sign of the doom and gloom of current economic situations, no old feuds, no gripes or grievances, even in the un-summer like chill of the evening.
By this point, the Oor Games team were well into their sixth cup of coffee, and I for one was running on the caffeine of this alone.
Hyped up from a day of speaking to amazing people, soaking up the baton relay atmosphere, dashing from point to point and downing half a dozen mochas, I was having a great time helping film the crowds and gaining an insight into what Dundee thinks we'll get from these Games.
The lasting image, for me, of the Queen's Baton Relay in Dundee isn't Lord Provost's engaging end speech, nor the baton bearers - as excellent as they were - nor Dennis the Menace or Clyde the Commonwealth mascot. It's of two police officers at the very end of the day. Perhaps they'd just come off duty, perhaps they were still on, but as the Scottish ceilidh band played they seemed in their element reeling and skipping round one another, arms linked and smiles on their faces. The kind of thing you only see for a second or two, but when all those small things come together, you realise they're what make a community. They're what make this celebration, and they're what make these Games 2014.
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