University of Stirling Archives

‘Scotland 1970’, Promotional brochure for the 1970 Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh

The University of Stirling is home to the archives of Commonwealth Games Scotland which preserve the record of almost a century of international sporting competition. The University Archives works closely with Commonwealth Games Scotland to promote and celebrate the achievements of Team Scotland through its archive. A key element of this engagement is the Hosts and Champions exhibition which has toured to twenty locations across Scotland. Specially curated versions of the exhibition have also been displayed at Scotland House, the travelling headquarters of Team Scotland, at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The cover of our nominated item has become the main promotional image for our Hosts and Champions exhibition, and by extension our wider work supporting and preserving Scotland’s sporting heritage. When selecting items to feature in the Hosts and Champions display this item jumped out of the box with its fresh, vibrant colours and timeless design. The image presents an optimistic, idealised picture of sporting competition, emphasising the Edinburgh 1970 event’s designation as ‘the friendly Games.’

Edinburgh 1970 was the first time the Commonwealth Games were held in Scotland, the result of a long campaign to bring the competition to the country. The Games has returned to Scotland on two further occasions, to Edinburgh in 1986 and Glasgow in 2014. The Commonwealth Games provide a unique opportunity on the sporting calendar for many Scottish athletes to represent their nation. The competition (and the archive of Commonwealth Games Scotland) provides a unique opportunity to view Scotland’s place in both the Union and the Commonwealth through a sporting prism, the cover of the Scotland 70 brochure beautifully representing the country’s place in the wider sporting community.