Commonwealth Games 2014: Glasgow Opening Ceremony to be UNICEF Fundraiser
The Celtic Park spectators - and the millions watching the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games curtainraiser on television on Wednesday - will be asked to support charitable projects in the Commonwealth of former British colonies by donating to UNICEF.
The Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow will partly be a UNICEF fundraiser, with the agency hoping the move encourages other sporting events to use showpiece occasions as charitable platforms.
The Celtic Park spectators - and the millions watching the games curtainraiser on television on Wednesday - will be asked to support charitable projects in the Commonwealth of former British colonies by donating to UNICEF.
"There will be a moment where everybody involved - the athletes, the audience in the stadium, the people watching on TV - will have the opportunity to support us by text or through online donations," UNICEF UK chief operating officer David Sparkes. "But it's not going to be a traditional telethon."
With around 2,000 people even donating during a rehearsal, UNICEF hopes FIFA will be inspired to follow their lead at the 2018 World Cup with a similar charitable endeavor.
"It will sound slightly hubristic, (but) I think tomorrow night will prove that something is possible that will be picked up and used at every sporting event," said UNICEF ambassador David Puttnam, a UNICEF ambassador, who produced the athletics-themed film "Chariots of Fire."
"I cannot imagine the next football World Cup (in 2018) not finding a means of engaging people globally by getting them to contribute to (charity)."