“It is only a sq..”Â
That is the three-star assessment of Nelson Mandela Place in Glasgow by somebody named Katie Nicholson on Google.
Katie is not solely unsuitable. A statue for the liberty fighter and former South African president is about to be unveiled in October, however for now there’s not a complete lot to see on the spot, listed as a vacationer attraction on Google Maps.
However the couple of avenue indicators tacked to buildings on West George Road, not removed from town centre, sit as a sublime and understated center finger to apartheid South Africa.
The South African consulate left this location for some motive. (ABC Information: Che Chorley)
In 1986, whereas Mandela was nonetheless in jail on Robben Island, the Glasgow Metropolis Council modified the identify of St George’s Place to Nelson Mandela Place.
It meant that the South African consulate underneath the then-ruling Nationwide Social gathering was compelled not solely to see the identify of one in all their chief antagonists as they entered the Inventory Alternate constructing day by day, but in addition ship out correspondence bearing his identify.
They opted to make use of a PO Field deal with earlier than shifting from the situation within the early 90s.
After Mandela was launched, he got here to town to thank the folks for his or her solidarity in 1993.
Nelson Mandela thanked Glasgow in 1993, between being launched from jail and changing into president of South Africa. (Getty Pictures: Chris Bacon/PA)
“Whereas we have been bodily denied our freedom within the nation of our beginning, a metropolis 6,000 miles away, and as famend as Glasgow, refused to just accept the legitimacy of the apartheid system, and declared us to be free.”
That cry of freedom is as synonymous with the Scottish as it’s with Mandela himself.
So, how does a celebration of this Commonwealth sit with a metropolis and nation that has all the time had a fraught relationship with oppressors usually and the English particularly?
ABE – Anybody however England
Andy Murray acquired to characterize Scotland within the 2022 Battle of the Brits. (Getty Pictures: Mark Runnacles/Battle of the Brits)
Tennis nice Andy Murray as soon as perplexed some (learn: People) much less au fait with the distinctive rivalries inside the UK when he was requested who he’d be supporting on the 2006 FIFA World Cup and replied: “Anybody however England.”
Scotland is not by itself on this regard.
Within the Ashes final summer time, Australia’s injury-plagued males’s Take a look at crew scored a triumphant skilled 4-1 victory, however extra Australian pleasure was derived from watching one other epic capitulation of an England crew that had declared itself the saviour of Take a look at cricket, educating us all the way to entertain, if not really win a lot of something.
We cheered each humiliating faceplant and fumble not less than as a lot as we celebrated the all-time world-class performances of Travis Head and Mitchell Starc.
The lately accomplished World Cup was one other reminder of the collective glee shared by so many in watching England stumble.
The Solar has set on the British Empire, and but this celebration stays. (ABC Information: Che Chorley)
There’s simply one thing in regards to the schadenfreude for Scots, Aussies and dozens of different nations in watching England lose.
Certain, you have acquired the Parthenon Sculptures and Rosetta Stone, however we have Ellyse Perry and Steve Smith.
“There may be this normal, reflexive thought of that they would favor virtually all people to win apart from England, as essentially the most highly effective a part of the UK,” Western Sydney College emeritus professor of tradition and analysis David Rowe advised ABC Sport.
“I feel for some folks it is critical, for some folks it is only a little bit of enjoyable.”
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There are jokes to be made, but in addition reflections on the very actual subjugation that went on for hundreds of years, and arguably solely led to 1997 when Hong Kong gained its independence.
This celebration of empire stays a peculiarity as calls develop to decolonise our language and our lives.
For an ideal instance, the Parthenon Sculptures talked about earlier are extra famously referred to as the Elgin Marbles, named for the lord who nicked them from Greece and introduced them again to Previous Blighty at first of the nineteenth century.
“I imply, the Commonwealth of Nations is, let’s face it, anachronistic,” Rowe mentioned.
Flags that do not all the time get to fly wave prominently on the Commonwealth Video games. (ABC Information: Che Chorley)
“There are individuals who … do not know a lot about it or, in the event that they schooled up on it, educated themselves about it, would realise that that is an anachronistic organisation primarily based on an empire that now not technically exists.”
Though, many within the still-constituent Scotland would inform you the legacy, if not the reality, of the empire stays in some ways.
“There are many folks in Scotland, together with its main Scottish Nationwide Social gathering, who actually would favor to separate from the UK and who’re mightily displeased by Brexit,” mentioned Rowe, a sports activities sociologist who consulted on the Glasgow Life crew tasked with serving to increase town’s standing on the worldwide sporting stage.
“There are many Scots who felt a higher affinity with the European Union than with England.”
Unusual, anomalous and anachronistic
A time machine is maybe a becoming automobile of entry of an occasion reminiscent of the previous. (AAP: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
On the opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Video games, King Charles III and Queen Camilla have been warmly welcomed by the packed crowd at Glasgow’s Hydro, maybe surprisingly contemplating the identical crowd’s hearty refrains of Flower of Scotland barely an hour later.
The Scottish anthem retells Robert the Bruce’s legendary victory over King Edward II of England on the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
The thrust of the rousing choon, and Scotland’s id extra broadly, is about how this small however mighty land of arduous people repelled the crown again and again on the again of sheer grit and pleasure.
So ingrained of their id is sticking it to the English that, as an alternative of tearing down statues of outdated royals and dignitaries just like the Duke of Wellington, they’ve merely given up on eradicating the visitors cones positioned on his head.
The Video games have by no means opened like this – possibly they all the time ought to
And but, twice previously 12 years, Glasgow has gone out of its option to host what’s appropriately dubbed the Pleasant Video games, welcoming dozens of countries whose main unifying theme is that they have been as soon as conquered by the “bastards” from that anthem.
“It does strike me as one thing of an irony that it isn’t that very way back that Scotland had a referendum to sever its ties with the UK and the British Crown, and now it is internet hosting a Commonwealth Video games,” Rowe mentioned.
“I feel it is having a little bit of enjoyable, all of the kilts and all of the Scottish tradition, reminding people who Scotland has its personal id and has not simply been subsumed by the UK.”
The Commonwealth Video games has the royal seal of approval. (Getty Pictures: Aaron Chown/WPA Pool)
In case you want extra proof of the unusual bedfellows in impact, Rowe mentioned you want solely have a look at the occasion’s authentic identify.
It was known as the British Empire Video games from 1930 to 1950, the British Empire and Commonwealth Video games till for the following 4 editions, and the British Commonwealth Video games till 1972.
“So much more coded British,” Rowe advised ABC Sport.
“And it is a unusual physique in some methods, when you contemplate that it’s a monument to colonialism and imperialism. And but the members, most of whom have been previously underneath the jurisdiction of the British crown, have been colonised, have now voluntarily agreed to hitch an organisation which was fashioned out of that imperial association.”
It additionally offers these within the British Isles an opportunity to beat England whereas representing Scotland, Wales, Northern Eire, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
Scottish knights of the British Empire Chris Hoy and Andy Murray have received a mixed 13 Olympic medals for Nice Britain.Â
Duncan Scott is Staff GB’s most adorned Olympic swimmer, Mark Cavendish has received a world championship and Olympic silver with the Union Jack subsequent to his identify, however each circled to beat the English whereas flying the Scottish saltire and Isle of Man’s triskelion through the Commonwealth Video games.
Duncan Scott has received extra Olympic medals than another British swimmer. (Equipped: Commonwealth Sport)
So how does the house crowd really feel watching their sporting heroes flying these flags?
“I feel it means extra to them to compete for Scotland,” one Glasgow native, Peter, advised ABC Sport.
“You’ll be able to see it of their faces after they do higher. It does imply much more to them to characterize their residence nation.”
There’s maybe a touch of non-public projection on this fan’s evaluation, as summed up by his mate, Pat.
“I’d hope that it does [mean more] for them, as a result of it could for me,” he mentioned.
Duncan Scott with the 2014 and 2026 mascots, the latter sporting a visitors cone for a horn. (Getty Pictures: Jane Barlow/PA Pictures)
No quantity of raucous crowd help or nationwide pleasure goes to show a 45-year-old bricklayer who’s had a sizzling canine for breakfast right into a 10-flat 100m runner. However on the tippy-top of sport, the place the margins are at their best, it is acquired to be price just a few hundredths of a second.
Angharad Evans swam for Staff GB on the 2025 world championships in Singapore, lacking the semifinals and ending a brutal 18th total within the 100m breaststroke as she went virtually two seconds slower than her time on the nationwide trials.
She carried these scars along with her till she exorcised them with a spectacular victory on the Tollcross Worldwide Swimming Centre, profitable her first worldwide gold medal and thanking the gang for getting her to the wall 0.12 of a second forward of Aimee Canny.
Angharad Evans mentioned the Tollcross crowd carried her for the ultimate 10 metres. (Getty Pictures: Quinn Rooney)
“Scotland was there to witness that and that was a really, very particular second for me,” she mentioned.
“I thanked them as a result of main into competitions it is really easy for doubts and detrimental ideas to play an element in my mindset main up, and I stroll out and so they simply actually uplift me and provides me the boldness I would like and increase me up.
“They usually discuss how proud they’re of us bringing again gold medals and PBs, however I am immensely proud to have the Tartan Military supporting me within the crowd.
“Sporting the blue and white, listening to the gang, being a part of Scotland simply carries you to the tip. I do not assume I’d have had the energy and the braveness I did within the final 10 metres if I wasn’t within the blue and white and did not have that crowd behind me.
“They completely helped me get to the tip and end in first place. So it is a medal for me but it surely’s additionally a medal for Scotland.”
All that from an English-born 23-year-old who continues to be studying the phrases to that well-known Scottish anthem.
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