Clyde rules himself out as Glasgow 2026 Games mascot
However, he assured fans that he will find a new role next summer.
A spokesperson for Glasgow 2026 read a statement on Clyde's behalf, saying: "Back in 2014, I was honoured to play a part in one of the greatest sporting summers Glasgow and Scotland have ever seen.
(Image: Craig Watson) "To know that after all these years, I still hold such a place in the heart of this city and in the heart of Scotland, is a far greater honour than a simple thistle could ever ask for.
"So, for this very reason – and with a heart full of excitement for what's about to come – I officially rule myself out of the running to be the mascot for Glasgow 2026."
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The new mascot, created by 76 schoolchildren, will be unveiled on July 23, marking one year until the Games begin.
Phil Batty OBE, chief executive of Glasgow 2026, said: "Clyde is loved by everybody in the Commonwealth Games community, from the team, fans and athletes to the wider public, for his friendly face, his energy and his pride in Scotland.
"He's given many years of tireless service and will be a tough act to follow, but we know our brilliant new mascot will add magic and sparkle to the Games and win a new generation of hearts across Glasgow, Scotland and around the world.
"We're excited that Clyde will have a role to play at Glasgow 2026, and can't wait to share what it is."
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place from July 23 to August 2, 2026, featuring more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories competing in a 10-sport programme across four of the city's iconic venues.
More than 200 medals will be up for grabs across 11 days.
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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Clare Balding's famous partner and TV comment that sparked Ofcom complaints
Wimbledon presenter Clare Balding has become one of the UK's most popular broadcasters over the past two decades, while her private life has also become the subject of much intrigue Clare Balding is once again in the thick of things this summer as she leads the BBC's Wimbledon coverage. With three decades of experience under her belt, Balding has become one of the most recognised and respected faces on British television. She has previously fronted the BBC's coverage of high-profile sporting events such as the Olympics, Grand National and the Commonwealth Games. This evening, she will be at the forefront of the broadcaster's coverage of SW19, where Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will face off in the men's final. Given Balding 's rise in prominence, there has naturally been an increased interest in her personal life, with her romantic relationships and occasional controversies attracting public attention. And we will now look to provide an in-depth insight into Balding's world beyond the cameras. Who is Clare Balding married to? Balding met her wife, fellow presenter Alice Arnold, in 1999 while they were both working for the BBC. Initially close friends, their romantic relationship began in 2002 when a national publication disclosed Balding's sexuality to the public. The couple made their relationship official with a civil partnership in 2006 and later married in a private ceremony in 2015, following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the UK. Their wedding was subsequently backdated to honour their original 2006 pledge. Reflecting on her first meeting with Alice, Balding admitted that she was immediately drawn to her at a BBC programme, despite not knowing who she was. "I saw her and thought 'Oh, she's really interesting and rather beautiful'," she recalled. "We started chatting and she's very funny. We were friends for at least two years." Balding, 53, described her partner as "fiercely loyal", adding: "She would protect me and it's an incredible quality to have. It's like having your own little guard dog - it's amazing." Alice has had a successful career in her own right as a broadcaster for the BBC, including an impressive 18-year stint on BBC Radio 4. Balding has had relationships with men in the past and was even proposed to by one of her former boyfriends. She turned down the proposal and has no regrets about it, later learning that he went on to "behave appallingly". "I had a few boyfriends, not like loads. But I had one very serious boyfriend for two or three years," she explained. "He asked me to marry him and he was in the Army and he was going off. And I thought 'he's only asking me because he thinks he's in danger and, according to romantic films, I'm meant to say yes at this point'. "I knew I didn't want to. I said 'Look, that's a lovely thing to say but ask me again when you come back'. When he came back he didn't ask me again, and I thought ''Thank God''. I thought 'I don't trust you and I'll never trust you' - and funnily enough I was absolutely spot on as his ex-wife told me not that long ago." She continued: "That relationship ended not very well with him behaving appallingly. I think I was damaged by that, but that doesn't make you gay. I just think when I first fell in love with a woman it was completely different." Cancer diagnosis In 2009, Balding shared her thyroid cancer diagnosis. The presenter spotted the warning signs, including a noticeable lump on her neck, while viewing herself on screen - symptoms which can encompass a lingering sore throat and trouble swallowing. After undergoing surgery to remove a cyst, her thyroid gland and a lymph node, she was treated with radioactive iodine to halt the cancer's spread. Despite concerns over the potential impact on her voice and career, she fortunately received the all-clear by the end of 2010. Discussing her experience, Balding said: "I had to have a little operation just before Christmas to take out a nasty little lymph node and there was a worry that I might have to have more treatment." She also shared some positive news: "But I had a lovely letter from my oncologist just after Christmas saying, 'Hurrah, no more treatment', so I'm very happy about that. 2011 is going to be a good one." Looking back on her battle, she admitted going through a "dark stage" because of her health struggles but came out with a renewed outlook on life, admitting: "When I recovered, my attitude to life changed. I feel happy most days, grateful for all I have." Broadcasting controversies Despite being one of Britain's esteemed presenters, Balding found herself embroiled in controversy during the 2024 Paris Olympics coverage. During a chat with former Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington on air, Balding was surprised to learn no Olympic athletes had visited Adlington's school in her youth, which led to accusations of classism from viewers. The topic arose when pundit Mark Foster spoke about being "inspired" by meeting Duncan Goodhew at his swimming club as a child. Having asked if Adlington had a similar encounter, she answered: "To be fair, I didn't have somebody like that," to which a clearly astonished Balding, who had a private education, asked: "No one came to your school?!" Her remark sparked indignation among some viewers, with one commenting: "Of course Balding thought it TOTALLY NORMAL for Olympic medal winners to visit schools - because being privately educated and descended from nobility and privilege, this kind of thing is part of the cultural experience they expect." However, Balding's BBC colleague Gabby Logan came to her defence. She responded to a critical comment with: "I'm sure lots of what you say may be true about private school experiences, but it's certainly not true about the whole of the BBC. I went to a state school nobody visited, teachers were striking in the 80's, and no school trips. NB 'Speakers for Schools' is great charity." Logan added "Also to be clear I love my colleague and she's a great broadcaster. But a sweeping statement about the BBC needed addressing. Look at our OG line up across the day, we are a mixed bag from different backgrounds bringing all our many experiences to the way we communicate." It wasn't Balding's first encounter with public outrage. She once made a notorious comment to the late jockey Liam Treadwell after he won the Grand National, where she said jokingly that now he could afford dental treatment, commenting: "Liam, just give us a big grin to the camera, let's see your teeth. He hasn't got the best teeth in the world, but you can afford to go and get them done now if you like." Treadwell, who sadly passed away in 2020 at the age of 34, took the comment with grace, responding: "Well I could do, but I ain't complaining. It might be bringing on bad luck if I do that, though." However, viewers reacted badly to the exchange, leading to over 2,000 complaints being lodged with Ofcom. Balding showed regret for her comments, admitting: "It was a terrible thing to do. It coincided with my illness and I believed that was it for me – I would never work again. It was inexcusable and it taught me a big lesson."
Edinburgh Live
2 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
BBC star Clare Balding's famous partner and 'inexcusable' live TV comment
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Clare Balding is once again in the thick of a bustling summer as she leads the BBC's Wimbledon coverage. With three decades of experience under her belt, Balding has carved out a reputation as one of the UK's most esteemed and recognisable TV personalities, having also fronted broadcasts of high-profile sporting events such as the Olympics, Grand National and Commonwealth Games. Today, she'll be at the heart of the broadcaster's coverage from SW19, with Carlos Alcaraz and Yannik Sinner squaring off in the men's final in south west London. Naturally, Balding's high profile has piqued interest in her personal life, with her romantic liaisons and occasional controversies attracting public attention over the years. Here's a glimpse into Balding's life away from the spotlight, covering her journey to openly embracing her identity, her 'dreadful' ex-partner and an 'unforgivable' comment that remains one of her biggest regrets, reports Wales Online. Who is Clare Balding married to? Balding met her wife, fellow presenter Alice Arnold, back in 1999 when they were both working for the BBC. Initially good friends, their relationship took a romantic turn in 2002 when a national newspaper disclosed Balding's sexuality to the public. The couple entered into a civil partnership in 2006 and later tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2015, following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Britain. Their marriage was backdated to acknowledge their initial commitment made in 2006. Reflecting on her first encounter with Alice, Balding shared that she spotted her during a BBC programme without realising who she was. "I saw her and thought 'Oh, she's really interesting and rather beautiful'," she recalled. "We started chatting and she's very funny. We were friends for at least two years." Balding, aged 53, praised her partner as "fiercely loyal", likening her to a protective presence. "She would protect me and it's an incredible quality to have. It's like having your own little guard dog - it's amazing." Alice has had a notable career with the BBC, including an extensive period on BBC Radio 4. Balding, a prominent face on BBC Sport, has had relationships with men in the past, including one serious boyfriend who proposed to her. She declined the proposal, later discovering that he went on to "behave appallingly". "I had a few boyfriends, not like loads. But I had one very serious boyfriend for two or three years," she disclosed. "He asked me to marry him and he was in the Army and he was going off. And I thought 'he's only asking me because he thinks he's in danger and, according to romantic films, I'm meant to say yes at this point'. "I knew I didn't want to. I said 'Look, that's a lovely thing to say but ask me again when you come back'. When he came back he didn't ask me again, and I thought ''Thank God''. I thought 'I don't trust you and I'll never trust you' - and funnily enough I was absolutely spot on as his ex-wife told me not that long ago." She went on: "That relationship ended not very well with him behaving appallingly. I think I was damaged by that, but that doesn't make you gay. I just think when I first fell in love with a woman it was completely different." Cancer diagnosis. In 2009, Balding disclosed that she had received a thyroid cancer diagnosis. The broadcaster noticed the telltale signs, including a prominent lump on her neck, whilst watching herself on television - warning signs that can also include a persistent sore throat and difficulty swallowing. After undergoing an operation to remove a cyst, her thyroid gland and a lymph node, she received radioactive iodine therapy to stop the cancer from returning. Despite concerns about potential damage to her voice and broadcasting career, she was given the all-clear by the end of 2010. Reflecting on her ordeal, Balding said: "I had to have a little operation just before Christmas to take out a nasty little lymph node and there was a worry that I might have to have more treatment." She also conveyed some heartening news: "But I had a lovely letter from my oncologist just after Christmas saying, 'Hurrah, no more treatment', so I'm very happy about that. 2011 is going to be a good one." Reflecting on her health battle, she acknowledged experiencing a "dark stage" but emerged with a fresh perspective on life, confessing: "When I recovered, my attitude to life changed. I feel happy most days, grateful for all I have." Broadcasting controversies Despite being one of the UK's most esteemed broadcasters, Balding found herself embroiled in controversy during her coverage of the Paris Olympics. A conversation with former Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington led to unexpected backlash when viewers perceived a hint of classism. The incident unfolded after pundit Mark Foster discussed how meeting Duncan Goodhew at his local swimming club had "inspired" him in his youth. Inquiring if Adlington had a similar inspiration, she responded: "To be fair, I didn't have somebody like that," which seemed to surprise Balding, who had a private education, prompting her to question: "No one came to your school? !". The comment made by Clare Balding about Olympic medallists visiting schools sparked a backlash from some viewers, with one stating: "Of course Balding thought it TOTALLY NORMAL for Olympic medal winners to visit schools - because being privately educated and descended from nobility and privilege, this kind of thing is part of the cultural experience they expect." Despite facing flak, BBC's Gabby Logan came to Balding's defence, replying to a critic: "I'm sure lots of what you say may be true about private school experiences, but it's certainly not true about the whole of the BBC. I went to a state school nobody visited, teachers were striking in the 80's, and no school trips. NB 'Speakers for Schools' is great charity." Logan didn't stop there, clarifying her stance further: "Also to be clear I love my colleague and she's a great broadcaster. But a sweeping statement about the BBC needed addressing. Look at our OG line up across the day, we are a mixed bag from different backgrounds bringing all our many experiences to the way we communicate." Previously, Balding had stirred controversy with her infamous comment to the late jockey Liam Treadwell after his Grand National triumph. She jokingly suggested he could now afford dental work, saying: "Liam, just give us a big grin to the camera, let's see your teeth. He hasn't got the best teeth in the world, but you can afford to go and get them done now if you like." Treadwell, who sadly passed away in 2020 at just 34, replied with characteristic dignity: "Well I could do, but I ain't complaining. It might be bringing on bad luck if I do that, though." The comment sparked outrage amongst viewers, resulting in over 2,000 complaints being lodged with Ofcom. Balding expressed remorse for her remarks, confessing: "It was a terrible thing to do. It coincided with my illness and I believed that was it for me – I would never work again. It was inexcusable and it taught me a big lesson."
STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
Always surprises in football
Jens Berthel Askou was disappointed with his first result as Motherwell boss – but noted they were not the only top-flight team to struggle. In his first game in the Well technical area, the Dane watched his side draw 2-2 with Clyde in the Premier Sports Cup. Bully Wee striker James Hilton put the League Two side ahead after just 16 minutes and although a double from Tawanda Maswanhise had the Steelmen in front, Liam Scullion levelled in the 53rd minute with a header – with Motherwell taking the bonus point with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win. Elsewhere, fellow William Hill Premiership side Dundee lost 1-0 at home to Airdrieonians in Steven Pressley's first game as boss of the Tayside club while St Mirren were held to a goalless draw at Arbroath and lost the penalty shoot-out. Ahead of the second group game at home to Peterhead on Tuesday, Askou told Well's official X account: 'It just shows how tricky football is in general. 'There'll always be surprises in football, especially in the cup tournaments, there will be things that don't go as expected. 'We didn't get the result we wanted, obviously. A few other clubs, as far as I've heard, didn't do that either. 'And that's just football in general. You have to be there on the day. 'I think in terms of effort and structure, we were good, in terms of intensity, I think we pressed them with the intensity. 'Every time we tried to press, they put the ball in behind. I think we should have dealt better with some of their direct play. 'That's something to improve on, definitely. And then it's about getting the tempo up, but I'm sure that Fir Park will give us the possibility to play at a much higher tempo.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
