An exhibition celebrating Scotland’s relationship with the Commonwealth Games will be touring Scotland over the next 12 months, with the preview aptly opening on Commonwealth Day (9 March) in Irvine.

Drawn from the Commonwealth Games Scotland Archive held by the University of Stirling, ‘Hosts and Champions: Scotland in the Commonwealth Games’ celebrates over 80 years of participation and achievement by Scotland in the Games, from its origin as the British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930, through to Glasgow 2014.

The exhibition includes photographs, designs, clothing, papers and artefacts which evoke a rich story of Scotland’s involvement in the Games, including as hosts in 1970, 1986 and 2014.

Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “The Commonwealth Games Scotland Archive is a fantastic collection of artefacts which highlight how the Games have grown and Scotland’s involvement from the very beginning. We are delighted this touring exhibition will bring the archive to life and allow people across the country to share in what makes the Commonwealth Games so special.

“Given the huge enthusiasm and support for the Games across Scotland I am sure it will be extremely well received.”

Richard Haynes, Professor of Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling and academic curator of the exhibition, said: “We are delighted that North Ayrshire Council are the first to host our touring exhibition Hosts and Champions.

“Trinity Church in Irvine provides a wonderful venue for the touring exhibition, bringing together Scotland’s sporting heritage with an iconic building in the centre of the town.

“I’d like to thank the Scottish Government’s Legacy 2014 team for initiating and supporting the tour, and we hope local communities will enjoy and reminisce on some of Scotland’s great sporting achievements at the Games, as both hosts and champions!”

Hosts and Champions will be displayed in a number of local authority cultural venues across Scotland in 2015 and 2016, opening with a preview event at the Trinity Church in Irvine on Monday 9 March, Commonwealth Day.

The exhibition will be on display to the public from Friday 13 March until Friday 17 April, on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am – 5pm.

The Provost of North Ayrshire, Joan Sturgeon, will attend the preview event, along with representatives of Commonwealth Games Scotland with the Queen’s Baton. Margaret Burgess, Minister for Housing and Welfare and local MSP for Cunninghame South, will also speak at the event.

The exhibition, developed with the support of Commonwealth Games Scotland and Legacy 2014, is curated by the University of Stirling Archives.

Provisional Hosts and Champions touring programme 2015 – 2016:

Location Opening date Closing date Partners

Trinity Church, Irvine Mon 9 March – Fri 17 April 2015 North Ayrshire Council

Carnoustie Library Mon 20 April 2015- TBC Angus Council

University of Stirling Thu 23 July – w/c 7 Sept 2015 Macrobert

Dalkeith Library w/c 14 Sept – w/c 19 Oct 2015 Midlothian Council

Dumfries Museum Sat 31 Oct – Sat 5 Dec 2015 Dumfries & Galloway Council

Stranraer Museum Sat 23 Jan – Sat 27 Feb 2016 Dumfries & Galloway Council

Old Kirk Museum, Kirkintilloch w/c 7 March – Thu 21 Apr 2016 East Dunbartonshire Council

More information about the exhibition is available at: http://libguides.stir.ac.uk/projects/hostsandchamps and http://archives.wordpress.stir.ac.uk/2015/02/05/news-from-the-village/.