Glasgow's Commonwealth Games celebrate the British Empire while poking fun at every turn
Glasgow's hosting of the Commonwealth Games serves as a backdrop for reflecting on the city's historical opposition to apartheid. The article highlights how the city renamed a street after Nelson Mandela to protest the South African consulate during the 1980s.
Why it matters
This piece explores the intersection of sports, international diplomacy, and local historical activism.
Glasgow's Commonwealth Games celebrate the British Empire while poking fun at every turn By Jon Healy in Glasgow Topic: Commonwealth Games
Link copied Share Share article "It's just a square."
That's the three-star review of Nelson Mandela Place in Glasgow by someone named Katie Nicholson on Google.
Katie isn't entirely wrong. A statue for the freedom fighter and former South African president is set to be unveiled in October, but for now there's not a whole lot to see at the spot, listed as a tourist attraction on Google Maps.
But the couple of street signs tacked to buildings on West George Street, not far from the city centre, sit as an elegant and understated middle finger to apartheid South Africa.
The South African consulate left this location for some reason. ( ABC News: Che Chorley )
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