Interview with Dame Kelly Holmes
Posted by AlexT - 03/11/09 at 12:11 pmAs part of the Commonwealth Conversation, Dame Kelly Holmes, President of Commonwealth Games England, talked to the RCS about what the Commonwealth means to her.
Transcript:
What does the Commonwealth mean to you?
The Commonwealth is something that has been part of my journey as an athlete for very many years. We have some very significant things, like the Commonwealth Games, that we participate in, where seventy-one nations come together. And its always been known as the ‘friendly games’; people from different backgrounds, cultures, all uniting for the same purpose, that is to use sport as something that gives you passion, achievement and success.
We asked thousands of people around the world what they thought about the Commonwealth, and the thing that they said most was that they knew the Commonwealth Games. Why do you think that is the part of the Commonwealth that sticks most in people’s hearts?
I think sometimes the Commonwealth isn’t known that much, to the younger generation; we don’t talk about the Commonwealth in a more positive light, we don’t really talk about the history of the Commonwealth, and I think that’s a shame. But, actually, the Commonwealth Games gives that identity, and if we’re trying to inspire young people, sport is a way of engaging young people. Watching something like the Commonwealth Games, they get an understanding of what it is that people from different nations and nationalities are coming together, and if that’s the positive message that we can get across, then the Commonwealth Games is a platform to talk about everything else in the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth heads of government are meeting in a couple of week’s time, in Trinidad, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. If you could tell them to focus on one thing, what would it be?
I think the one thing I would really say to focus on, is that if you’re truly passionate about young people, you have to invest in them.
Category : My Commonwealth, Sport, homepage items
Tags: Commonwealth Games, Sport
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November 13th, 2009 at 7:48 am
that is true. But along with the investment, there needs to be proper supervision so that the investments can be fruitful.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:59 am
I think the issue of the legitimacy and long-term benefits of the Commonwealth Games are a question that needs to be raised on this site.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:12 am
what about including cricket and football in the games?
November 16th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Invest in young people! Go Kelly!
November 17th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Ahh! the Commonwealth Games! the 4-yearly opportunity Australia gets to sit atop the meddle table without any challenge!
November 24th, 2009 at 10:10 am
iam IN MBALE SECONDARY SCHOOL.P.O.BOX 982,MBALE,UGANDA. I WOULD LIKE 2 JOIN THE ASSOCIATION AND BECOME A MEMBER. REPLY ON THE ABOVE POSTAL ADDRESS.