21/07/2014 The One Show

Welcome to The One Show from Glasgow, on the banks of the River

Clyde, at what is a very exciting time for Scotland. We will be based

here for three days, so that we can soak up the atmosphere, in a city

which is just 58 days away from the independence referendum. 11 days

away from the fastest man on the planet exploding down the track, and

just two days away from the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

We have built a stage, and we will be chatting to Nicola Benedetti

about her role in the opening ceremony. Don't mention that, it is

a massive secret, do not even go there. Something else you should

probably not mention around here this week is London 2012. But we

think that in some ways, these Commonwealth Games could be better

than the Olympics. And so do the people of Glasgow. Matching London

2012 would be a huge achievement, but I am an optimist, so here goes.

It is a more friendly environment. The Commonwealth is a family,

whereas the world is still divided. All different countries are

competing. England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, I think that is

exciting. Have you felt the bars? Absolutely, the whole of Glasgow is

buzzing. Just here in the East End of Glasgow, what is the Commonwealth

Games going to do for that area? It is going to bring a bit of money for

that area. Glasgow is a big city, but any investment which comes in

should go back to the people, to make more areas accessible, to

inspire the next generation to do more sport. Who will win in terms of

the partying stakes, between England and Scotland? Scotland, definitely,

win or lose. The Commonwealth is a family! Isn't

that a lovely phrase? Now, Hang on, everybody, brace yourselves for some

more applause, because, from an opening ceremony point of view, the

one thing the Olympics did not have, which the Commonwealth Games will

have, is Nicola Benedetti. Over to you.

APPLAUSE NICOLA BENEDETTI, EVERYONE.

COME AND JOIN US. Welcome. And we have got the Commonwealth tartan on

our sofa, which is very nice. Now, we said earlier, you were performing

in the opening ceremony and in what can you tell us? Not very much! I

have been sworn to secrecy. Right, have you rehearsed any of it? Oh,

yes. I know lots, I just cannot tell you very much. Who have you

rehearsed with?! All kinds of wonderful people! Yes, that has got

a round of applause! Talking of wonderful people, you are sat

alongside Iwan Thomas and Ade Adepitan. We were just hearing in

that film about comparing the Olympic Games with the

Commonwealths, so where do you stand? I think the Commonwealths is

better then the Olympics, because it is the only global Games with

Paralympic events going alongside the able-bodied events. For the

price of one ticket, you can get to watch some of the best athletes,

both able-bodied and para-athletes. Are you on commission for tickets?!

I am stating facts! And also one of the main differences is perhaps that

in the Olympics, you compete as Great Britain, and in the

Commonwealth Games, you compete for your home country. Yes, as you said,

in the Commonwealth Games, for an athlete, it is every four years,

which is a lifetime. For me, to run for Wales, I trained my heart out,

in the mighty red of Wales, and for me, honestly, that medal means more

to me than any other medal I have got. And you are incredibly proud,

you have brought your medals along. Which one would you be happy for me

to keep? I would probably let you take home the Olympic medal, purely

because... Let me say, all of a sudden, you come to the Commonwealth

Games, those guys, from my British team, I hate them! That is what

makes the Commonwealths so special, the opportunity to run for your home

nation. I am sure a lot the opportunity to run for your home

home will be agreeing with you. We were wondering, if you do have a

personal connection to the Commonwealth Games, would you please

let us know? We are looking forward to the opening ceremony of the 20th

Commonwealth Games, but thinking back over all 19 previous ones, can

we possibly get a collage going? Send whatever you have got in, even

if you have got something going back to 1930. We hope to get something

from all 19 of them. Now, of course, there is something else going on in

Scotland this year besides the Commonwealth Games. I am of course

talking about the independence referendum. We took a journey from

Aberdeen to Glasgow, picking up passengers on both sides of the

vote, and this is the first leg of that journey.

I live about 550 miles that way, but no matter where you are in the UK,

you will be well aware that something very, very important is

happening right here in Scotland. The 5 million people who live here

are facing a difficult decision, a decision on whether Scotland leaves

the UK or not, a referendum on Scottish independence. To find out

more, I am setting off on a referendum road trip to gauge

people's opinions, starting in Aberdeen, where the talk is all

about business and oil. Michelle, why are you going to be voting for

an independent Scotland? Fundamentally, it means that we have

control over our economic losses, which can make Scotland not only

wealthier, but fairer as well. Looking out to sea from Aberdeen, we

see oil wells, and looking inland, we see food banks. That is

completely unacceptable. What do you make of that? This city is thriving

in the United Kingdom, and I am voting no because I want to keep

what we have, as well as giving more powers to the Scottish Parliament.

We will have the best of both world's if we vote no. We want

certainty, we need to know where things are going in the future. So,

that was Aberdeen. Aberdeen is always going to be about the money,

the big industrial and business. Now, I am heading south towards

Dundee, stopping off along the way to gauge opinion. You think an

independent Scotland could work? There is no reason why not. What are

your thoughts on an independent Scotland, is that what you are

angling for? I think we are better together. How would you consider

yourself? No, I am Scottish, right through. How are you going to vote

in September? I am a no. I am a yes. But you are still happy together?

Still pals. Finally, I reached Dundee, to meet a young professional

and a young postgrad student. I will be voting yes, because I feel that I

truly believe in democracy, and I think that whoever we vote for

should represent us at government level, which will allow us to have

policies which fit Scotland and create more opportunities for the

people. I am doing the right thing for my country, voting no, because I

think that secures the opportunities for young people in the future. So

you are worried about your own opportunities? Yes, why should we

put jobs at risk? Tomorrow I will be travelling to the big cities of

Edinburgh and Glasgow, where opinion is divided. Have you got stick for

wearing this? I have, yes. Yes, and we have paid for another tank of

petrol, and he is off on the second leg of that journey tomorrow.

Speaking of journeys, we have been following... We have been following

the Queen's baton around Britain. And you have had this pinger with

you all the way, haven't you? And there it is. Two days to go, of

course come until the opening ceremony, with some very interesting

people, we do not know any more than that! But your new album, Homecoming

- A Scottish Fantasy, it has done phenomenally well, it has got into

the top 20. You must be thrilled? I was shocked. For a classical

musician, you do not I am hoping there is something about the context

of the CD which has resonated with people. I think the fact that it is

focusing on my journey back home. The violin is one of the most

integral instruments to Scottish traditional music, and yet I have

only really played music from other countries, which is strange. Is it

fair to say that it is more folk than classical? It has three

sections the first is very classical, although based on

Scottish tunes. The second section is based on Robert burns, because I

grew up in Ayrshire, so he was always a part of my up ringing. And

the third is collaboration is with all kinds of Scottish folk

musicians. The guitarist I played with today, well, actually he is

Irish. Could you play a bit for us, then, because we would love to hear

the difference? It will be quite a challenge for me. The piece I played

today, you have to have quite a strong downbeat, which was really

helped by everybody clapping. But if I were to play it like... People

cannot stop! But if I were to play it in a more classical way... Which

is also beautiful. Nobody clapped! Now, we do know obviously that for

you, music is a really, really big part of your life and it has been

ever since you were a child. You are a strong advocate for introducing

classical music to young people at school? Very much so. I have been

aligning myself with different organisations who spend every day of

every minute trying to establish that, and also putting on workshops

to try to provide a no, platform, for hundreds of young people, who

can play relatively simple pieces, but altogether, and equally working

with some of the best students that we have in the UK. It is an ongoing

thing, because classical music is one of those subject which does get

sidelined. They do say that if you want your child to be a musician,

the best thing to do is to play music jarring the pregnancy. What

happens if you want your offspring to be a world-class table tennis

champion and no well, as it happens, I know a man who can answer that

question. pushing and wanted to win. For the

Chinese, you need to outperform your competitors to be successful. It is

important to succeed for me. My father would be really proud of me.

I am Tin Tin, I'm 15, and I've won 34 gold medals at the National Table

Tennis Championships. This is my big brother, also my practice partner.

My father's passion started when he was a young boy in Hong Kong. You

could see he was passionate in the house. Two floors are dedicated to

table tennis. When my wife was pregnant, I used to bounce the table

tennis balls on a bat, hoping that they would get familiar with the

sound. I think he planned ahead. So much so that he called me Ping, and

my sister Tin Tin. But there is also a Chinese influence. It means every

day, but It also means sky. So I think he was thinking about rooting

for the sky. He made me a small bat, because my fingers are too small to

hold a normal one. He built me a platform to stand on so I could see

over the table. I believe in specialisation, I also believe table

tennis is a sport for life. If we do something, we have to work as hard

as we can. I train FIFA hours a day, normally. Also in school, I am doing

11 GCSEs. I started the piano at quite a young

age. I finished my grade eight last year. I make my children do the

classical music. Good music has good rhythm. Table tennis, the

consistency, the stroke returns, it makes a rhythm. It's got to be

consistent. Get the ball back across the table. Don't rush. Try to

disrupt her rhythm. During domestic tournaments, my father usually

coaches me. Before we play someone, usually we would analyse the

opponent together. After the match, he would give me some advice. He was

always driving us to play table tennis the best we could play. The

pressure got to me a bit too much. I haven't stopped, I've just relaxed a

bit. I don't think my father was too pleased. He did give a lot of his

time and effort. When they were young, I used the wrong strategy.

And I'm sorry that I appeared to be dominant, and that was not right.

Now he is a bit more relaxed, but I still want to play. He said if I

wanted to do anything else, he was happy with whatever I did. I just

had to try my hardest in whatever I did, he didn't really mind. She has

won many, many medals. And we are hopeful for the Commonwealth Games

that she will contribute to achieving good results. My message

to my dad would be, thank you for getting me interested in table

tennis. Because it's a big part of my life. Well, after all of that, I

am certainly on Team Tin Tin. Her first match is on Thursday. Do you

reckon she can get a gold medal? The beauty of sport is that it's all on

the day. She is so focused and works so hard. If you can get it right on

the day, I'm intimidated by her. I'm glad my dad didn't bounce a

basketball on my mum's stomach! Lets stay on this topic of ones to look

out for. Who wants to go first? David Weir, he won four gold medals

at the Paralympics. You would think that was the pinnacle of his

career. He said yesterday he is a fitter and faster now. He's a proud

Englishman and he's desperate to win gold in the 1500 metres. He's one to

watch out for. And then various Victoria Vincent, a 13-year-old

sensation. Her nickname is Va-va-voom. She got her first title

in June. Only ten months after her first dive. Can you are Jim going to

the Commonwealth games at the age of 13? I struggled to turn up for

school or do a paper round at the age of 13, never mind perform on a

global stage. Scottish athlete a Eilidh Child. She's beaten all of

the Americans on the circuit, and she's a favourite to win. If she

does get a she's a favourite to win. If she

first gold medal for Scotland in track and field, since Yvonne Murray

in 1994. Believe it or not, I was there. 20 years ago. I'd love to see

her win. Very quickly, is your there. 20 years ago. I'd love to see

record going to go? I think it will. Ronnie James, the Olympic

champion, he's will. Ronnie James, the Olympic

I hold the record, if I'm honest, he can do that in his sleep. But it's

all to do with pressure, going through the rounds. Who knows? We

have brought most of the team with us. Everybody wanted a mini

Glasgow. Angelica is on HMS Bangor, just down there. Who have you found?

I found the Commanding Officer, Mike Carter Quinn. Thank you so much for

having us on board. Tell us a bit about what HMS Bangor really does.

We are one of the 15 minehunters. Our job is to go worldwide, dispose

of them wherever they may be. Once the sonar has detected one,

of them wherever they may be. Once you do next? We need to identify it

and exactly what it is. We send down Seafox, however remote vehicle with

a camera on the front. A second vehicle can go down and detonated if

it is confirmed as a mine. We have the divers, two of them are dressed

in a kit. They can go down there and be very hands-on, if necessary place

charges and dispose of any they find. So it's pretty dangerous? It

can be, but they are highly professional, well-trained, great

guys, much like the other 40 behind me. You can come on HMS Bangor over

these two and half weeks and see what goes on. David, you are a chef

on board, but also involved in the games? Yes, I'm also a volunteer on

the athletes village, driving the team around. And you are a local

boy? Proud of what you do? I'm a Glasgow boy, very proud. We did hear

the siren, but I think we should hear it again. Absolutely.

Noisy bunch! Nice of David to go and volunteer.

Back in the day, one of my favourite sporting films ever was Cool

Runnings, based on the Jamaican... That got a reaction! It was based on

a Jamaican bobsleigh team who, against all of the odds, qualified

for the 1988 Winter Olympics. We wondered if there were any similar

stories in Glasgow. We sent Edith Bowman to find out.

In 21st-century sport, winning medals means more than pushing an

athlete to extremes. Success can depend on scientific diets,

high-tech kit and the best facilities. But for some athletes,

competing in the Commonwealth Games, that's just not possible. In

the furthest reaches of the Commonwealth, they might have sun,

sea and sand that we dream of, but what many don't have other vital

bits of kit that most top athletes use everyday. So, how do you compete

in a world-class event without world-class facilities?

It's making my heart go. Oscar is from Congo. -- Tonga. He's training

in a gym that a big contrast to what he's used to. Back in Tonga, the

training facilities we used our unmatched. There is only one

punching bag. There's a skipping rope. That is all we have. We only

eat, like, once-a-day will stop just once.

I think my competitors have better facilities than me. But that won't

stop me. Who wants it more get sitcom you know? I've got that big

Tongan heart. He's determined to show that poor

training facilities will not hold him back. But he's not the only

competitor with something to prove. The Barbados rugby 17 started on the

back foot. Six months ago they failed to qualify for the

Commonwealth Games. When Nigeria dropped out of the competition, this

part-time team got a call. The problem was, the players were spread

across the world. Somewhere in Barbados and the others were living

in the UK. So their coach brought them together for last-minute

training in Sutton Coldfield. The team don't normally get to play

together? Yeah, this is the longest they have been together. It's really

helped. You can see the Barbados boys bring something to the table,

the UK boys bring something to the table. We are trying to get the best

attributes of both. But getting to play together isn't the only

advantage to training in the UK. Our training back home is everything we

can get our hands on, tractor tyres, scaffolding, anything we can use.

Trees, ropes, each other. Keeping a natural? Basically. Here, big

difference. We've got five pitches, a gym, loads of equipment, very good

trainers. Do you see a difference? Yes, I feel a lot better. Your

posture has changed, your whole outlook has changed. It's a very

positive. The best is working together. You get to push each

other, guide each other, argue with each other when somebody is doing

something different. It's like a family. Even after weeks of

intensive training, they still face a mighty barrier, the competition.

They are taking on home nation Scotland and Commonwealth champions

New Zealand. We are days away from the game is starting. How are you

feeling? We are showing that we can be competitive if we were together.

We are looking forward to hearing the anthem, hearing our hearts

beating fast and wanting to get out there and represent our country.

That's what the Commonwealth Games work -- means for us. Do you see

yourselves as underdogs? Under underdogs. Nobody sees as coming.

Earlier on, we asked for photographs of previous Commonwealth Games. We

had lots from this year, but not many from previous games. Eleanor,

the 2012 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. She came seventh in the shot

put. Keep them coming. And you can see Nicola Benedetti on the

Commonwealth games. Her album is out now. We are finishing with a

brilliant piece of music which has been found by scientists to give

people a feeling of excitement. This is Red Hot Chilli Pipers with

Avicii's Wake Me Up.