"The XVII Commonwealth Games provides
a wonderful opportunity to embrace and celebrate the diversity
of our arts and to open our doors to the traditions and cultures
of other Commonwealth nations."
Gerry Robinson - Chairman, The Arts Council
of England.
The Spirit of Friendship Festival
– was a catalyst and a banner for a vibrant, visual and
engaging celebration of the modern Commonwealth, generating
enthusiasm for community celebrations, excitement and widespread
awareness in the lead up to the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
The Festival enabled the overall Games experience to reach far
beyond those mainly interested in sport or in the North West.
As the host of a vast array of other activities it ensured an
unforgettable summer of celebration in 2002. It aimed to leave
a lasting legacy of diversity and inclusion nationwide and in
the North West.
The Spirit of
Friendship Festival’s vision was to be the most ambitious,
multi-cultural festival linked with a major sporting event
ever to take place in the UK.
Activity was grouped into four strands linked by the common
themes of diversity and inclusion. The strands were:
- Sport
- Education
- Arts and culture
- Community events linked to The Queen’s Golden Jubilee
Active Sports Talent Camps
launched!
A £3m programme delivered by Sport England
was launched nationally on 29 April in Eastbourne by Sport
England chairman Trevor Brooking, ex-cricketer and England
captain Ian Botham and his son Liam. More than 10,000 young
athletes from 9 different sports were given the chance to
tread in the footsteps of their sporting heroes in 9 different
multi-sport Talent Camps.
Arts and culture
The Spirit of Friendship Festival’s
nationwide Arts and Cultural programme set out to portray
the vibrant visual and performing arts, and cultural traditions
of the countries that make up the Commonwealth. A spirit which
celebrated and embraced diversity swept through theatres,
concert halls and galleries, and spilled out on to the streets
of towns and cities.
The hub of the Spirit of Friendship Festival’s arts
and cultural programme in the north west was cultureshock,
featuring more than 200 events. The programme presented fresh
perspectives of Great Britain and the Commonwealth with UK,
European and World premiers in theatre, music, dance, film,
literature, visual arts and new media. Highlights included
a showcase with Nitin Sawhney, sculptures by Sokari Douglas
Camp and a wide ranging programme of events at the Lowry.
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