Beyond the Games, powered by Dell brought together international influencers from sport, business and the civic realm as agents for innovation and change. For just one day they gathered in Glasgow to celebrate the incredible work that is already being achieved through the spirit of the Games, and set a challenge to its members and supporters to commit to positive change over the four-year period to the next Commonwealth Games, to be held in Australia’s Gold Coast in 2018.  

Beyond The Games, powered by Dell saw equal rights, inclusion and ethics on the agenda just two days before the Opening Ceremony of the XX Commonwealth Games took place. Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive David Grevemberg gave the first address of the day, telling the audience: "This is an incredible opportunity to talk about issues that really matter. Sport is a critical part of every strong community. Legacy is not something that happens to you. It is something that happens by you."

Humza Yousaf MSP, Minister for External Affairs and International Development, Scottish Government went on to deliver a keynote address. Humza Yousaf MSP condemned human rights abuse as well as discussing the need to promote minority groups in sport.

The inspiring welcome addresses were followed by the presentation of The Dell Scotland Legacy 2014 Award to Active East, a project based in the heart of East Glasgow. Active East aims to use the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as a catalyst to address significant issues relating to young people’s lack of participation in sport and physical activity in the east of Glasgow and to create a local legacy from the Games.

Active East were shortlisted for the award alongside The Drumchapel Sports Centre, StreetSoccer Scotland, Move More Dundee and Healthy Powerful Communities.

The first panel of the day saw influential figures from sport and business addressing the Commonwealth values through sport. These values: Humanity – Equality – Destiny were the three main themes that were at the heart of the event, and at the heart of the social development legacy of the Games. The panel included:

•  Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Former Commonwealth Para-Athlete & Paralympian
•  Ishbell Macphail, General Manager Scotland, Dell
•  Mark Mungal, Founder, Caribbean Sport and Development agency
•  Sir Craig Reedie, President, World Anti-Doping agency

Next was an Hour of Inspiration: Three Journeys Beyond the Games. This session saw Karyn McCluskey – co-director, Violence Reduction Unit - discussed sport as a right and a platform; John Amaechi – Organisational Consultant and Former NBA Player – focused on equality in sport, paying particular attention on the importance of unearthing and appreciating diversity; and Mel Young – Founder of the Homeless World Cup - talked about the value of destiny and how sport can be used to reach positive destinations.

After lunch and a networking opportunity for all delegates, the afternoon keynote was delivered by Councillor Archie Graham – Deputy Leader of the Council; Glasgow City Council. Councillor Graham highlighted the diversity of Glasgow and the history and dynamism of immigration into the city.

The afternoon was where the work took place, during six simultaneous breakout panels. The sessions covered:

•  Humanity I – Upholding Children’s rights
•  Humanity II – Demanding ethics in sport and mega events
•  Equality I – Using those with differences and addressing discrimination
•  Equality II – Protect, Promote and Support
•  Destiny I – Developing employability pathways
•  Destiny II – Sustainable Programming

The recommendations that came out of these groups were then presented on the main stage. Liz Twyford from UNICEF UK announced the recommendations from the humanity sessions, Musa Okongwa, Journalist, announced the recommendations from the Equality sessions and Keith Russell, representing Glasgow City Council, announced the recommendations from the Destiny sessions.

These recommendations were:

Humanity

•  Integrate children’s needs, human rights and ethics at the heart of all major sporting events from bid through to delivery
•  All major sporting event organising committees should be required to include a ‘legacy team’ to work alongside the bid and delivery teams
•  Ensure greater transparency by formally assessing legacy plans as a part of the bidding process for major events and greater accountability throughout delivery and post-event evaluation

Equality

•  All organising committees should identify groups that require targeted outreach to ensure accessibility to the events and have a plan in place to do so
•  Organisers of major sporting events should proactively build partnerships with grassroot equality and diversity organisations to ensure the role of civil society
•  Equality, diversity and inclusion should be mainstreamed at all levels to benefit both the event itself and ensure legacy

Destiny

•  Major events should focus on promoting collaboration of existing local partners – government, sport and community - to create a more sustainable legacy
•   Legacy planning must include long-term options for funding of programmes to ensure growth and development is sustained
•   Major events should leveraged to ensure long-term employment opportunities for young people 

After the recommendations had been announced came the final session of the day where Lord David Puttnam, UNICEF UK Ambassador, joined the Hon. Mr Fikile Mbalula, Minister of Sport and Recreation, South Africa, on stage to discuss sport, development and governance in the Commonwealth.  Lord Puttnam explored the power of sport, stating, “These Games can ignite a spark and create positive change, for children across the Commonwealth” 

After the BIG interview the day was drawn to close, with delegates moving onto the Civic Reception in Glasgow City Chambers. Hosted by Glasgow City Council and welcomed the by Lord Provost, the reception celebrated six Beyond Sport Young Inspirers – young people from Glasgow who represented the values of the Games. These young inspirers came from different walks of life, but had one thing in common – they had embraced the power of sport to further their life goals, create ambition, enhance personal leadership skills and most importantly have experienced a positive journey of change through participation in sport. 

Organisations Attended

Aberdeen City, Aberlour Child Care Trust, African Youth, Age Scotland, Amnesty International, Glasgow Gurdwara, Association of Directors of Social Work, Athletes World Foundation, Big Lottery Fund, Caribbean Sport and Development Agency, CESAU, Change Foundation, City of Edinburgh, CluB Sante Glasgow,Commonwealth Games England, Commonwealth Games Federation,Commonwealth Secretariat, Community Interfaith Society, Council of Ethnic Minority, Voluntary Sector Organisations, Dell, Dundee City Council, East Ayrshire Council, East Lothian Council, Equality and Human Rights Commission, Event Knowledge Services, FARE Network, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Glasgow 2014, Glasgow Access Panel, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow Central Mosque, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Disability Alliance, Glasgow Life, Griffith University, Heart for the City, Homeless World Cup, I Trust Sport, ICSS, Independent Living in Scotland, Inspiring Scotland, Jobs & Business Glasgow, Kelvin Amateur Boxing Club, LEAP Sports, Lethamhill Tigers Golf Club, LGBT Youth Scotland, Magic Bus, Marylebone Cricket Club, Mayor's Sports Fund, Mobility Access Committee Scotland, Muslim Womens Sport Foundation, Network for International Development Organisations in Scotland, NHS Tayside, NSPCC, NUS Scotland, Orchard and Shipman, Peek, PEEL, Peter Tatchell Foundation, Presbytery of Glasgow, Princes Trust, ProjectScotland, Renfrewshire, SALSC, Scottish Accessible Information Forum, Scottish Association for Mental Health, Scottish Association of Minority Ethnic Educators, Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils, Scottish Disability Equality Forum, Scottish Disability Sport, Scottish Football Association, Scottish Government, Scottish Human Rights Commission, Scottish Inter Faith Council, Scottish Older People’s Assembly, Scottish Refugee Council, Scottish Sports Futures, Scottish Youth Parliament, SEMSA, Senscot, Show Racism the Red Card, Skills Development Scotland, Social Enterprise Scotland, SPFL Trust, Spirit of 2012 Trust, Sport Scotland, Sported, Sports Leaders UK, Sportswork Group, Street Soccer Scotland, Transparency International, UK Community Foundation, UNICEF, Urban fox programme, Violence Reduction Unit, Volunteer Centre Glasgow, Volunteer Development Scotland, WADA, Waverley Care, Wellhouse Community Trust, West Dunbartonshire Council, West Lothian Council, Who Cares Scotland, With Kids, Young Scot, Youth Sport Trust