Brits say Gallipoli a priority for Glasgow Games closing

THE British government is bowing to pressure to ensure that there will be a component recognising the Gallipoli campaign at the 2014 Glasgow Games.

THE British government is bowing to pressure from Australian Anzac Centenary organisers to ensure that there will be a strong military component recognising the Gallipoli campaign during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year.

The Australian government had feared the British recognition of World War I was lagging behind its plans, and that the Western Front was being promoted at Gallipoli's expense.

At a meeting yesterday with a British politician, assurances were given that the anniversary commemorations were a priority and there would be appropriate recognition for the 1915 battle in Turkey.

The British Minister for Sport, Tourism and Culture is Hugh Robertson, a former army major who served in the Gulf War and conflicts in Bosnia and the former Yugoslavia.

Mr Robertson attended the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for talks with the memorial's director, Brendan Nelson, and toured Duntroon for discussions on the WWI centenary plans.

"Part of my visit is to assure Australians we are standing shoulder to shoulder," he told The Australian. "While the Australian government may have been worried five or six months ago, I think you have been reassured that our plans are now more advanced and you are satisfied with what is happening."

The minister said 8000 Australians had died at Gallipoli, alongside 40,000 Britons.

"We don't want Gallipoli forgotten in the centenary of the Western Front activities and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games will recognise the part the Commonwealth played in that," he said.

Mr Robertson said at these early stages of the Commonwealth Games ceremony design, ceremony creators Jack Morton International had been asked to consider a fitting tribute to the Anzacs - particularly given the national impact of Gallipoli on Australians and New Zealanders - as well as the Western Front in the ceremonies.

The Commonwealth Games finish on August 3 next year - the day before the commemorations for World War I begin.

A spokesman for Glasgow 2014 said: "We are aware of how the dates fall and at this stage still a couple of months out from getting the creative about the ceremonies we will have the war centenary as one of the things in the mix."