WALES FINALLY WIN THEIR FIRST GOLD MEDAL

Francesca 'Frankie' Jones helped Wales win their first ever gold medal duing these Games, by beating Wong Poh San from Malaysia (silver medal) and Patricia Bezzoubenko from Canada (bronze medal).

With a flawless performance and a score of 14.500, Jones went into first place with more athletes still to go after her. Poh San went right after Jones, but Bezzoubenko wasn't until second last and looked strong at first until she had a tangle in her ribbon which resulted in a penalty.

Jones had already won the silver medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics Hoop, so winning the gold on the same day is quite a performance for Frankie Jones and Wales. So all that is left to say is well done Miss Francesca 'Frankie' Jones.

BILLY BILSLAND CYCLING HELPS TEAM MALAWI PREPARE FOR ALL CYCLING EVENTS

Glasgow is named the friendly city, and Neil Bilsland is the prime example of friendliness by gifting team Malawi with new bikes. Despite their bikes being functional, they were outdated and Neil wanted to make sure that they didn’t crash during a race.

“Everyone else has better kit them still.” Bilsland said. “We just wanted to help the guys out and make sure they enjoyed their time here in Glasgow.” 

Along with team Malawi, Billy Bilsland Cycles helped teams Ghana and Guyana, as they were in today discussing their orders. He said it didn’t cost the shop much and wants to do more to help teams with their cycles. 

“We are going to set up a Just Giving page, with a view a view to actually supplying and giving the equipment to take home. It makes you think what you can do, what you might do.”

With Scotland having such strong ties to Malawi and with the cyclists being “the nicest, friendliest guys you’ve ever met” Neil felt it was important to keep these ties strong. In 1990 the Special Olympics were hosted in Scotland and unfortunately the French team’s bike didn’t turn up, so Neil’s father Billy Bilsland supplied them with bikes. Like father, like son.

Neil’s family are very cycling orientated with his father who cycled in the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica, his uncle who raced in 1970 in Edinburgh, and his grandfather who was chef du mission in 1986.

In Billy Bilsland Cycles, Neil has two signed jerseys by David Millar, British road race and time trial champion of 2007, and winner of the 2008 Tour de France jersey of Carlos Sastre, all given to him by customers.

Neil is also a fan of the Tour de France, but also hasn’t had time to watch it every day. He went down to Yorkshire to see the Grand Départ, but has to watch the highlights at night to keep up with it. 

“I’ve had my fingers in my ears all day to not hear the results so the highlights are interesting when I get home at seven o’clock.” Neil laughs. “But I've hardly watched it in the last week because the shops been busy with the Commonwealth Games.”

Bilsland Cycles had quite a few tickets for the track cycling, but gave some tickets away to his customers. Since the Commonwealth Games started on Wednesday, Neil hasn't time to watch the Games due to his shop being so busy, but has been to see the track cycling on Friday afternoon and saw the tandem gold medal race that Scotland won. His workmates have also been to the cycling, but on different days.

Due to the popularity of the shop, seen by the amount of people in the store, and the new business with teams Ghana, Guyana and Malawi, I believe that Billy Bilsland Cycles will be mobbed by cycling enthusiasts from all nations, and I know that Neil and his team will be able to handle the mass of people, just like they did today. And I say to Neil Bilsland and team thank you for helping Glasgow show why we are called the friendliest city in Scotland.

FROM BEAUTY QUEEN TO COMMONWEALTH WEIGHTLIFTER

Sarah Davies started weightlifting back in September, 2011, through the influence of her partner Jack Oliver. After six months of dating, Oliver convinced Davies to join him in the gym and encouraged her to try out weightlifting, and she took to it like “a duck to water”. 

There are many different sides to Lancashire born girl, other than weightlifting and being a beauty pageant contestant. She is a county-level golfer, a Latin dancer and a former gymnast. She had always hoped that she would be able to compete in the Commonwealth Games as a gymnast, but never as a weightlifter.

Davies stopped doing gymnastics after finding it did nothing for her, unlike weightlifting. Despite focusing on winning a gold medal rather than a tiara, Sarah still wants to compete in future beauty pageants. In 2012 Sarah competed in the Miss Leeds pageant and won, but missed out on winning the Miss England pageant.

While training for the Games, the weightlifter is also training to be a PE teacher, but Davies has seen some reluctance in young girls to get motivated in sport. She believes that “if schools can get athletes into schools” it could help them get inspired and get them to focus academically and become more active. 

Sarah hopes to prove to aspiring models and pageant girls “strong is the new sexy” and it is better to have curves and be toned, rather than be skin and bones.

Davies has dreams of one day competing in Rio 2016, and being the first British female weightlifter to win gold at the Olympics. She also hopes to become an inspiration to young girls in both the weightlifting and beauty pageant competitions, and I know she can do it. If Davies wins a medal during the Games, I see her being one of the leading female role models, along with Nicola Adams (boxing) and Victoria Pendleton (cycling: track).

So Sarah Davies, I wish you the best of luck during the Games.

BUCHANAN STREET GETS SOME MALAYSIAN FLAVOUR ADDED TO IT

Not only do the people of Glasgow get to see the Malaysian athletes compete, but they are also getting a taste of the Malaysian cuisine through Ping Coombes' food truck outside Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall.

Coombes cooked up dishes like Kari Ayam Chicken Curry, Curry Laska and Beef Bendang. The surrounding audience were given the Chicken Curry recipe on a card to make at home, for themselves or for a dinner party. Ping also gave little hints into how to cook the food her way (which was actually her mother's way as her mother taught her how to cook).

Born in Bath, Coombes isn't used to the fast paced popularity she is getting, but takes it in her stride as best she can. since winning Masterchef she has hit the ground running and hasn't stopped since. 

"I still can't believe I won," Ping states: "I get recognised when I am out now. It's crazy. I'm sure it will all die down soon though and in a few weeks people won't even remember who I am."

Ping went to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth on Wednesday, and posted on Twitter: "Just a tad excited that I'll be going to the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony tonight.” 

Coombes brings one of the only Malaysian food trucks to Glasgow. Glasgow is known for its diverse food cultures, but it lacks a vast amount of pan Asian recipes. If you would like to try it, then you better be quick as it won't be there for long.

Adams wants Commonwealth and Olympic gold before trying to go pro

Nicola Adams, representing England during the Commonwealth, starts her campaign on Monday in the flyweight category. Fellow Olympians Natasha Jones and Savannah Marshall (competing in the lightweight and middleweight categories respectively) are also part of the eleven-strong England boxing team competing in the Games. 

The team England boxer dreams of being the first woman to win the gold medal in the Commonwealth, and firmly believes that she can defend her gold medal in the Olympics. Nicola knows that going pro will change the name of women’s boxing forever, but doesn't want to leave the amateur circuit just yet, having her eyes firmly set on the gold. 

Nicola became the face of female boxing after winning her gold medal in London 2012, and says that it has its good days and bad days, but you’ll never see her without a smile.

Adams never let the hype of winning Olympic gold go to her head, and has kept her wits about her, and never bowed down to the pressure that was, and still is, sure to follow her success.

In 2012 Adams was named the most influential LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) person in Britain, after coming out as bisexual, but her announcement wasn't big news, compared to Ian Thorpe’s coming out.

Regardless of her Olympic success, Adams is still overwhelmed by the amount people now want to know about her, and what people are willing to do to have their five seconds of fame. She found out she has more “cousins” than before. She is still same bubbly boxer that she was before she won the gold.

Despite Nicola Adams representing England in the Commonwealth, boxing fans from all Commonwealth nations will be cheering her on and hoping that she attains that gold medal she is fiercely competing for.

Happy Belated International Mandela Day!

Ninety-six years ago on the 18th of July, in South Africa, one of the greatest minds to ever grace the Earth was born, by the name of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Nelson Mandela, known to his followers as Madiba or Tata, is known for his anti–apartheid movement, as well as his five year term as South Africa’s first black President.

His term started in 1994 and ended in 1999, and during his time as President, his government tackled the issues of institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. 

After his five year term as president, Mandela wanted a quiet family life, but after finding this difficult, he reverted back to a busier life, wherein he founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which focused on rural development, school construction, and combating HIV/AIDS, an issue close to Mandela, as one of his children died of AIDS.

Even though Mandela had retired from politics, he still shared his views on politics in other contries. Publicly Mandela criticised “Western powers”, such as the 1990 NATO intervention in Kosovo, and the plans for the US and the UK to launch war in Iraq. He even criticised the treatment of Megrahi, who was being held in Barlinnie prison in Scotland.

Nelson Mandela announced he was “retiring from retirement” in June 2004, and retreated from the public eye, even denying most interview requests. He kept some involvement in international affairs, until February 2011.

During 2011-2013 Madiba was hospitalised for a respiratory infection, until on 23rd June 2013 his condition became critical. On the 5th December 2013, Madiba died surrounded by his family; however he will never be forgotten, as his life will be remembered not only by his family and friends, but the entire world as being one of the greatest minds to ever grace the Earth.

Mandela Day is a day which celebrates both his birthday and his achievements and hardships throughout his entire life. We reflect on what he tried to teach, not only South Africa, but the entire world, through his anti – apartheid movement.

Nelson Mandela will forever be remembered for years to come, through teaching in schools, through politics, through his family and friends, and through his wise words, which “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love. For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” 

Nelson Mandela

Born: 18 July 1918
Died: 6 December 2013

What cycling brings to the Commonwealth

Cycling is a worldwide sport that brings people from all walks of life together and give them a sense of belong.

Being a huge cycling fan myself, going to the track cycling to watch some of the most courageous athletes – in my opinion – was a dream come true. Not only did I get to see Sir Bradley Wiggins – first British winner of the Tour de France – but I also saw some great races and close calls.

On the way to the Velodrome, I met a mother and her son, eager to see the cycling as much as me. The son is part of a cycling club and he saw Bradley Wiggins (Wiggo) as his cycling hero, like many budding cyclists. I also met a lovely English couple going in the same direction as me, and they too were excited to see Wiggo on the track for England.

Not only was a former Tour de France winner there, but many Olympic cyclists had their turn trying to conquer the Games – as they did the Olympics. Names like Jason Kenny, Phillip Hindes, and Ed Clancy cycled for England, while para – Olympic athlete Aileen McGlynn cycled for Scotland in the Women’s Sprint B2 Tandem race.

During the race, the crowd (including me) cheered for every athlete – especially Wiggo and Aileen – showing the world watching that Glasgow really is the friendliest city, and it also shows that the Commonwealth really are the friendly Games.

Cycling, for many people, is a sport where accidents may happen, but the athletes get right back up again to continue, no matter the injury. There is no fouls or penalties like football, just good clean racing.

Cycling, for me, is a sport of endurance, courage and speed. From cycling at those speeds around the velodrome and to climb up to the top of the track amazes me. It also makes me wonder if they have a death wish or they are incredibly brave.

The Velodrome has been an inspiration to young and old cyclists, ever since it opened, and it has taught people more about the sport and what it can and will bring to their lives. Despite the belief that after the Games the velodrome will be turned into a bingo hall, I firmly believe that it will continue to be a success for years to come.