The Commonwealth Games drew to a close on the Gold Coast in Australia last week.

Many on these shores were awash with nostalgia as the event brought back memories of Glasgow 2014.

 

Scotland’s largest city was credited with saving the sporting occasion.

 

Before it arrived on the Clyde some had questioned how relevant the event was, with top name athletes choosing not to take part and others saying the level of sporting competitiveness simply didn’t cut it.

 

But as our city was transformed in a riot of colour and sporting excellence, with a few home golds thrown in, even the sceptics were won round.

 

The Gold Coast Games were a success also and generated a good bit of interest among Scottish punters, despite a sizable time difference.

 

Our competitors arrived home to a heroes’ welcome following the country’s most successful away game ever – with a total of 44 medals, including nine golds, 13 silver and 22 bronze – not to mention runner Callum Hawkins’ heroics in the marathon.

 

We’re reappraising the Commonwealth again this week, this time in the political arena rather than the sporting one, as leaders of the 53-nation organisation meet to discuss its future.

 

The Commonwealth draws members from a host of nations, from Vanuatu to Canada, and represents an incredible 2.4billion people.

 

The meetings – which take place every two years – are being held in London with 46 heads of government attending.

 

The last was held in Valletta, Malta in 2015. It was moved from the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu in 2017 because of the aftermath of Cyclone Pam.

 

Topics up for discussion include environmental issues such as ocean conservation, cyber security, and trade as well as more pressing matters such as whether the Prince of Wales should succeed his mother, the Queen, as head.

 

As with the games of the same name, the Commonwealth’s role comes into constant question in modern times.

 

Some argue it draws people from so many countries that it struggles to find common ground and relevance.

 

However as the UK gets set to leave one common body in the EU, I would argue that the Commonwealth is as important as ever.

 

And before any one jumps on it, I’m not by any means arguing that a relationship with the likes of the Papua New Guinea or even South Africa and Canada for that matter can replace the economic powerhouses of France and Germany.

 

The stats show Commonwealth nations take nine per cent of UK exports while the EU takes just 43 per cent.

 

However, much like the games, I’m a fan of the Commonwealth because of the wide diaspora and significant pool which the organisation draws its members from.

 

I like the fact that a woman or man from a small country can not only share the world stage with the likes of Australia, Canada and the UK, but can have his place upon it celebrated and acknowledged by others too.

 

They might not all be exporting Mercedes or buying whisky by the bucketload, but they are nations with whom we can share a forum for discussion, co-operation and celebration.

 

And in today’s world where the big guys are struggling to get along, surely that level of human interaction, of a kind that’s really fostering enduring international relationships and strong alliances, is the way to go.

 

 

SIDE

 

It has been an eventful start to 2018 on the international stage, there’s no denying it.

 

From the announcement of a new direct air link between Scotland and China, to the launch of the new Visit Scotland campaign, ‘Scotland is Now’ - which I spoke positively about in my column last week - it really has been all systems go.

 

Just days ago, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was in Beijing celebrating extraordinary growth in Chinese visitors to Scotland in the last decade, and I’d say we’re seriously courting further international leisure and business tourism in 2018 from China and beyond.

 

With the stage set for an even greater influx of visitors, so too are our visitor attractions stepping up to the plate. This year we have the long awaited opening of the V&A Dundee and just last week Diageo announced plans for a £150m boost to its Scotch Whisky visitor offerings, including a new Johnnie Walker experience in the capital.

 

Historic Environment Scotland also announced last week that its attractions had more than five million visitors in a year – an impressive feat for a country of similar proportions.

 

And businesses are turning their attentions to the international market too.

 

Take Apex Hotels, for example. The Scottish hoteliers recently announced concierge and reception staff are among team members learning key phrases in at least 10 of the most commonly spoken languages among guests, including Mandarin, Portuguese and Italian.

 

It’s fair to say those tourists will be in for a warm welcome when they touch down in Bonnie Scotland this year, whatever the weather.

 

 

LAUGH

 

I was tickled last week at the big gender reveal news, and no, it wasn’t another Kardashian baby.

 

This time it was the UK’s first polar bear cub in a quarter of a century at Scotland’s own Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig. 

 

And in case you missed it, it’s a boy!

 

Households across the country are now waiting with bated breath to find out what the cuddly cub will be called. His parents are named Victoria and Arktos, if that’s anything to go.

 

The shortlist is set to be shared on social media for our input so watch this space.

 

No doubt the buzz around his arrival will be a big draw for visitors at the Cairngorms park in the months to come. 

 

 

 

WEEP

 

You may have read about the rather peculiar case of the missing shopping baskets on the Isle of Lewis last week.

 

But in case you missed it, a supermarket in the town of Stornoway announced that its baskets were going missing at a rate of 15 each week – so much so, there were none available for customers to use.

 

The store hit headlines when it called for Islanders to return the baskets, “no questions asked”, in a basket amnesty.

 

This, in turn, prompted people across the country and further afield to speculate who would steal a basket, or 15, and what on earth they were doing with them.

 

Thankfully, as the week went on, baskets started to magically reappear as the call to action was heard and new stock arrived. Crisis averted!