Music centrepiece as Glasgow bids adieu to Commonwealth Games

Glasgow, Aug 4:

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony came to an end with a fine display of fireworks over Hampden Park but music took centrestage as Scottish singer Lulu, pop band Deacon Blue and Australian singer Kylie Minogue – to name a few – belted out their popular numbers here Sunday night.

Themed ‘All Back To Ours’, the 90-minute closing ceremony depicted a “typical night out in Glasgow”.

The whole ceremony from the outset had a very musical concert theme to it with Lulu kicking off proceedings in her version of the old Isley Brothers US hit of 1959, ‘Shout’.

Scottish band Deacon Blue took the stage next and rocked the crowd with one of their most popular songs ‘Dignity’.

The place was already abuzz with lightshows and fireworks when Scottish synthpop band Prides sent the decibel levels rising further with their foot-tapping number ‘Messiah’.

There was a lull in the proceedings as Karen Matheson sung a haunting rendition of Robert Burns’ ‘Aye Fond Kiss’ as the Commonwealth Games Federation flag was taken down and handed over to Australian delegation with Gold Coast hosting the next games.

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Prince Imran of Malaysia thanked Glasgow for delivering a wonderful Games.

“Glasgow, it is a job well done. You have delivered the best Games ever,” said Imran before adding the Glasgow slogan, “Pure, dead brilliant.”

It was an oz-fest from there on in Australian singer Jessica Mauboy sung two songs as the 2018 hosts got a chance to shine and show what lay ahead.

World-renowned Australian surfer Mick Fanning and Australia’s hurdles champion Sally Pearson showcased Gold Coast and also gave a message inviting everyone to the next Games.

But the biggest and the longest performance of the night came from Australian singer Kylie.

The 46-year-old Kylie, who released her 12th studio album this year, sung seven of her songs as the athletes were seen dancing to her beats.

Dougie MacLean saw out the night with a rendition of his classic ballad “Caledonia” and with the final song of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, the curtains came down on the ceremony.

Canadian gymnast Frankie Jones was awarded the David Dixon Award for the best athlete of the Games. She won six medals, including one gold, in the rhythmic gymnastics events.

The Games were participated by 4,750 athletes from 71 countries and territories in 18 sports over 11 days for 261 golds.

The closing ceremony was also participated by the Clydesiders, some of the 15,000 volunteers, who helped the athletes and the spectators during the Games.
(IANS)