Luncheon for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
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Monday, 28 April 2014 3:49 PM
Luncheon for the Glasgow 2014
Commonwealth Games
Egyptian Hall
Monday 28th April 2014
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of London
Alderman Fiona Woolf C.B.E.
My Lord Provost, Your Royal Highness, Your Excellencies, My Lords,
Ministers, Alderman, Sheriff, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Welcome to the City of London, and welcome to the Mansion House. I am
delighted to host you here – as a Scottish Lord Mayor of London! My solid
Scottish education provided a springboard that landed me, as an Energy
Lawyer, on the mats of electricity and infrastructure reforms in the Middle
East, Africa, Central and South America....in fact, even in Australia!
Including many Commonwealth countries. The City of London has been my
trampoline, and a very natural home! This Square Mile is a microcosm of
the global business community, and I am proud to be part of the rich and
diverse pool of international talent which is the City’s greatest strength.
You will all have your own connections with this great City, and we are very
pleased see so many friends returning just a week after I hosted the Easter
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Banquet here, for all the Ambassadors and High Commissioners to the
Court of St. James’. And that event followed hot on the heels of the State
Banquet we hosted for the President of Ireland. Many did not believe we
would live to see the day. An historic event. An inspiration. A partnership
established, a friendship developed, from shared economic and political
interests. Shared business culture, shared talent, shared knowledge.
Talent and knowledge flows in and out of the City every day – to Glasgow
and every UK business hub....every global centre of commerce.
Information is one of the most important commodities traded here in the
Square Mile – and it is ‘core business’ for the Lord Mayor. It is a role which
can be held by any Commonwealth citizen, and which works in service of all
– conveying messages, convening those at the forefront of every sector,
and contributing to the debate on global issues. This is ‘soft power’ and, as
Boris Johnson – he’s the other Mayor! – said recently, London is the ‘soft
power capital of the world’......using assets, culture, expertise and history
to support our global partners.
It is what underpins State Banquets....the Easter Banquet....and today’s
lunch in honour of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
An event which takes place under the banner of “taking part....in the spirit
of true sportsmanship”. This means fairness, respect and fellowship.
The foundation for a strong, healthy society – and the foundation for
strong market economies. And a healthy form of capitalism.
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The City of London Corporation is committed to the Commonwealth and its
values – and we were delighted to host the Commonwealth Economic
Forum in 2010. As Her Majesty The Queen said recently:
“Affinities of history and inheritance from the past are strong, yet we are
bound together by a sense that the Commonwealth is a powerful influence
of good for the future. People of all ages from different cultures are
weaving an ever-growing network of links which connect us in our diversity
and our common purpose. It is this unity that is expressed in this year's
theme: 'Team Commonwealth'.”
As a proud member of ‘Team Commonwealth’ and, as a Host Authority for
the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we in the City are
committed to delivering a lasting legacy. Not least, by backing the
Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, the ITU Triathlon World Championships,
the Rugby World Cup, the Tour de France and, of course, the
Commonwealth Games!
When London hosted these Games in 1934 – only the second time they had
taken place – women competitors were included. But only in sports that
were not deemed “too exhaustive”. Needless to say, things have moved on
(!)
And they’ve moved on here in Mansion House too! As a woman Lord
Mayor – the second in over 8 centuries – my most exhausting sporting
achievement is a year-long marathon, touring 30 countries and giving 900
speeches to champion “Brand Britain”! A brand which encompasses all
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financial, professional and business services.....as well as the arts, culture
and sport – on both sides of Hadrian’s Wall. They are all fantastic global
exports.
Scotland makes a vital contribution – through its financial and energy
services industries, its professional services firms, its world-renowned
cultural institutions, and its commitment to excellence in international
sport. And as an Ambassador for business in Scotland, and the entire UK, I
am so pleased to host representatives of UK Government, Commonwealth
Nations, and international business here today. And I hope you will join me
in saluting the wonderful work of the Games Delivery Team – led by you,
Lord Smith, and your Chief Executive, David Grevemberg. Your precision
planning is about to pay off, and we are very grateful to the Team for giving
us all so much pleasure.
[Pause]
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Commonwealth Games are an excellent
opportunity to celebrate our diversity – of race, gender and sporting
prowess. And to celebrate our unity through sport – bringing Nations
together to enjoy global success.
An ambition which is very much shared by the City of London – a meeting-
place of Nations for many centuries. Dating back to the sport played in the
Roman amphitheatre under the City’s Guildhall!
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So may we wish every Nation meeting here, the very best of luck. And we
look forward to celebrating your success....our collective success....in the
months to come. On that note, may I now invite you all to rise for a toast.
To “ THE COMMONWEALTH ”
(850 words)
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