Glasgow 2014 Unveils Games Mascot
A thistle man named Clyde has been unveiled as the official mascot of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The mascot, which has been named after the river which flows through the Commonwealth Games host city, was designed by Beth Gilmour, 12, after winning a competition.
Clyde was unveiled in a ceremony at BBC Scotland’s Glasgow headquarters located on the banks of the River Clyde, after a special animated film, narrated by 2014 Games ambassador Billy Connolly.
He was welcomed on stage by swimmers Rebecca Adlington, the Beijing 2008 double Olympic champion, and Michael Jamieson, who won a silver medal in the 200 metres breaststroke at London 2012.
Clyde is described, by Glasgow 2014 organisers, as being a patriotic and adventurous thistle who will be the friendly face of the Games.
The judges said that Gilmour’s design was chosen for its Scottish symbolism and Glaswegian charm and likeability.
It is the first time since a mascot made its debut in the Commonwealth Games at Edmonton in 1978 – when a grizzly bear called Keyano was chosen – that an animal has not been picked by the host city.
