Gold Coast Schools Connect was developed in consultation with Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation’s (GOLDOC) education stakeholder group, whose members comprise senior representatives from the Department of Education and Training, Independent Schools Queensland, Brisbane Catholic Education and Griffith University.

“The Gold Coast is preparing to host visitors from 71 Commonwealth nations and territories, including Australia, and local students will play a key role in welcoming them to the city,” said Jones.

“With less than three years to go, now is the time for students to start learning about other Commonwealth nations, their cultures and customs.

“Through Gold Coast Schools Connect, students will build ties with others in their adopted Commonwealth country to learn more about how they live and discover similarities and differences.

“This is an opportunity for Gold Coast students to reach out to others in the Commonwealth and build friendships ahead of the Games.

“Students should also start thinking about how they will be part of GC2018, whether it be officially welcoming athletes to the city or watching their favourite sports live at the venues.”

Gold Coast 2018 chairman Nigel Chamier revealed the programme includes the popular Adopt a Commonwealth Country, originally launched for the city's bid in 2011.

“Thousands of Gold Coast students learned about the Commonwealth and Australia’s important place in the Commonwealth of Nations through Adopt a Commonwealth Country as the programme demonstrated genuine community support for the Games,” he said.

“The decision-makers who visited the city prior to the vote were able to see with their own eyes how the schools embraced the programme, the creativity of our students and the genuine enthusiasm to develop a connection with the Commonwealth.

“It was indeed a catalyst to build relationships and underpin the event’s mantra of being ‘the friendly Games’.”

Chamier claimed Gold Coast schools are in a unique position with the Commonwealth Games being staged in their own backyards.

“Our local students will be an important part of everything we do between now and the Closing Ceremony in 2018,” he said.

“They are at the coalface in terms of welcoming athletes and spectators from all over the world and promoting the ideals of youth and youth achievement on a global scale.”

Special guests at the launch included Australia's Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimmer Andrew Baildon, as well as the newly-elected Gold Coast City Junior Mayor Zuzana Harmaniakova.

Also present was the young face of the 2011 bid, Eve Lutze, and the "Gold Coast Kid"from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games flag handover ceremony, Gabriel Pither.

An adaptation of Gold Coast Schools Connect will be rolled out to schools in other regions of Queensland as part of the Embracing 2018 Global Education programme, one of the key legacy initiatives of the Gold Coast Games.

Gold Coast Deputy Mayor Donna Gates claimed young people were at the heart of the legacy efforts.

“Hosting the Commonwealth Games is not just 11 days of sport, it is about securing a lasting legacy for our future generations,” she said.

“Having young people actively involved on the Gold Coast is key to staging a successful Games and to helping shape a long lasting legacy.”

The 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games is scheduled to take place from April 4 to 15. 

It will be the fifth time Australia has staged the Games, but the first time they will be held in a regional Australian city.


Related stories
April 2015: IT giants appointed first major Commonwealth Games England sponsor ahead of Gold Coast 2018
April 2015: Gold Coast hold event marking Three Years to Go until 2018 Commonwealth Games
April 2015: Special breakfast and outside radio broadcast among events marking three years until Gold Coast 2018
March 2015: Queensland Government take greater control of Gold Coast 2018 preparations
March 2015: Gold Coast 2018 claim they will not replace 5x5 basketball with 3x3