Young talent jets off to Commonwealth Games

A GROSVENOR Girls High School pupil will join 90 performers from around the world at this year’s 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Sinikiwe Sifumba has been chosen by the National Theatre to represent South Africa as part of an international performing group. She will travel to Scotland with the International Performing Company along with representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, Northern Ireland and Wales.

While Sinikiwe’s expenses for two weeks in Glasgow are covered by the National Theatre of Scotland, her flight expenses are not paid for. Hardware group Build it has agreed to help Sinikiwe pursue her dream. “We read about this young woman who had been chosen to represent her country at the Commonwealth Games, working with professional directors and choreographers and we felt that we had to help her realise her dream,” said Michelle Dickson of Build it South Africa.

The young performer is ecstatic that Build it has agreed to assist her. “I’d been trying to think of ways that I could raise money before July, while still focusing on my matric studies. I’d been praying for a miracle and it happened when Build it contacted me,” She said.

Sinikiwe was awarded the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre drama bursary in 2012. She used the funds from the bursary to enrol at the Rising Star Performing Arts Theatre School (RSPA). RSPA director Gill Brunings only has praise for the talented performer. “Sinikiwe has the talent and dedication to fulfil her dreams,” said Brunings.

The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 70 teams of athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the XX Commonwealth Games and will be held from 23 July to 3 August. It will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show. The Games will play host to 4500 athletes and sell 1,000,000 tickets with the event aided by an army of 15,000 volunteers. Glasgow 2014 Ltd is the official name for the Organising Committee tasked with delivering the Games in partnership with the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Commonwealth Games Scotland.

2. Glasgow 2014’s official partner level sponsors are Longines, SSE, Virgin Media, BP, Emirates and Ford. For more information on Glasgow 2014’s full sponsor family, please visit https://www.glasgow2014.com/games/our-sponsors

3. Glasgow 2014, the Commonwealth Games Federation and UNICEF are working together in an exciting partnership that will transform the lives of children in Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth. Using the power of sport and culture this unique partnership aims to inspire, enable and empower the children of the Commonwealth to be the best they can be.