Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014: Bangladesh team registration
The British High Commissioner welcomed Bangladesh Commonwealth Games team athletes and officials today to the British High Commission.
The British High Commissioner His Excellency Mr Robert W Gibson CMG welcomed Bangladesh Commonwealth Games team athletes and officials this morning to the British High Commission. The reception was an opportunity to celebrate sport and the theme of this year’s Commonwealth – Team Commonwealth as well as marking the annual Commonwealth Day.
The officials and athletes were registering for their accreditation card for participation at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games which will be held in Glasgow, UK (23 July – 03 August) 2014. In October 2013 the Queens Baton which will travel to all Commonwealth Nations, arrived in Bangladesh and was celebrated in two days of events.
The British High Commissioner said, ‘’The Commonwealth is a team of 53 independent member states. It is a team that is a purely voluntary club, bound together by shared history, deep and diverse links between our peoples and – at our best – strong common instincts and principles about the importance of open, transparent societies, democracy, rule of law and human rights. The UK looks forward to welcoming team members from the Commonwealth family, including Bangladesh at Glasgow 2014, to what promises to be another magnificent event binding us together. I wish them good luck at the Games.’’
Secretary General of the Bangladesh Olympic Association stated, ‘’To mark the Commonwealth Day with such an event is a great honour for me as well as for Bangladesh Olympic Association. We hope this will enhance the spirit of working together as a Team and strengthen the bondage amongst us.’’
Ron Rimmer, Head of UK Visas and Immigration In Bangladesh said, ‘’UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) is delighted to, once again, provide support to the Bangladesh Team by ensuring that their entry to the UK for the Games is as smooth as possible. Remarking on the excellent levels of customer service provided to UK visa applicants, he emphasised that the vast majority of applicants were issued with visas in 2013 and previous years, and that this was a strong indicator that UK remains open for business”.
Notes to editors
- The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 71 teams of athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the 20th Commonwealth Games and will be held from 23 July to 3 August. It will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show. The Games will play host to 4500 athletes and sell 1,000,000 tickets with the event aided by an army of up to 15,000 local volunteers.
- Glasgow 2014, the Commonwealth Games Federation and UNICEF are working together in an exciting partnership that will transform the lives of children in Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth. Using the power of sport and culture this unique partnership aims to inspire, enable and empower the children of the Commonwealth to be the best they can be.
- Glasgow 2014 Ltd is the official name for the Organising Committee tasked with delivering the Games in partnership with the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Commonwealth Games Scotland.
- To follow the baton visit www.glasgow2014.com
- The Commonwealth of Nations came into being in 1949.
- Fifty-three countries are members of The Commonwealth. Our countries span Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific and are diverse – they are amongst the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries. Thirty-one of our members are classified as small states – countries with a population size of 1.5million people or less and larger member states that share similar characteristics with them.
- Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth in 1972
- Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March. Commonwealth Day is an opportunity to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of the Commonwealth’s organisations, which aim to improve the lives of its citizens. The aim of Commonwealth Day is to celebrate the unity, diversity and linkages of the modern Commonwealth and foster greater understanding of the Commonwealth’s achievements and role.
- 2014 Commonwealth Theme is Team Commonwealth. The theme is intended to stress the importance of teamwork and collaboration both within and between Commonwealth countries. It also sets the tone for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later in the year. This theme will be reflected in the Observance and the throughout Commonwealth Week.
- Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) was formed in 1979 and recognised in 1980. The organisation of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games sits with the Bangladesh National Olympic Committee.
- Bangladesh made its first Commonwealth Games appearance at a Commonwealth Games in 1990 in Auckland, New Zealand where they picked up a gold and bronze in the shooting.
- The next medal for Bangladesh came in their fourth Games, Manchester in 2002, with yet another gold in the shooting, a silver from the same sport came in Melbourne in 2006 and a bronze in Delhi in 2010.
- UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) processed 30,000 applications for UK visas from Bangladesh nationals in 2013. Just under 70% were issued.
- British High Commission is managed by The High Commissioner who is the UK government’s representative in a Commonwealth nation. They are responsible for the direction and work of the High Commission and its Deputy High Commissions and/or Consulates, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.
- His Excellency Mr Robert W Gibson CMG, has been British High Commissioner to Dhaka, since September 2011. He was appointed CMG by Her Majesty in the 2011 New Year’s Honours List