The Glasgow Commonwealth Games made the front page of Munich’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung, with their London correspondent Christian Zaschke describing how the Games are expected to inspire Scotland’s national spirit. Referring to Scotland’s Prime Minister Salmond, whose Scottish National Party is campaigning for independence from the United Kingdom, Zaschke writes that the Commonwealth Games are also “political games which could have an influence on the mood with respect to the referendum on independence (in September, ed.)”. Although Great Britain’s Prime Minister Cameron, is quick to emphasize that it is a “British event”, and it is “not a complete coincidence” that Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced investments of 24 million Pounds in Glasgow on the eve of the opening ceremony, however, Salmond greeted it with silence. He knew that the Games speak for him: Whenever Scottish athletes win, “God Save The Queen” will not be heard, but rather “Flower Of Scotland”, the unofficial national anthem of Scotland, which celebrates the battle for independence against the English 700 years ago.
This article has been republished with permission from Karl-Heinz Huba, the editor and publisher of the Sport Intern.