Brent Eastwood: Scotland basks in glow of Commonwealth Games

Sport Northland chief executive Brent Eastwood.

Sport Northland chief executive Brent Eastwood is in Scotland at his first Commonwealth Games. He has attended an International Sports Forum on Community Sport at Scotland's Stirling University, and has been hosted by Sport Scotland visiting schools and clubs in the lead-up to the Games.

I can sense that this event is a big one for Scotland - a nation that has sometimes struggled with its identity in sport, often blended in with Great Britain at the Olympics or the likes of the British and Irish Lions with rugby.

I sense the Scots want to make a statement on the world stage that they can sit autonomously, and from an outsider looking in, they are doing a very impressive job.

Autonomy or independence is about more than just the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Scotland is holding a referendum in September asking its citizens whether they wish to continue the traditional alignment to the British sovereignty or become an independent nation.

Six months ago they tell us that the mood of the nation would have been 80/20 toward status quo.

Recently the gap has closed significantly.

Add in Glasgow 2014 and win a few gold medals like national heroes Hannah Miley and Ross Murdoch did in the pool on day one, and a September referendum could be a good time to target independence.

The Games' opening ceremony at Celtic Park was a wonderful visual display of the role that Scotland has played internationally - innovative, creative, brave and a nation always with a smile on its face.

Day one at the cycling and I was cautiously optimistic my first visit to an international track cycling event might coincide with New Zealand collecting its first gold medal.

Our world champion team sprinters, Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and the blockbusting Eddie Dawkins, had all the pressure in the world on their shoulders as they took on England in the final. They sent a clear message in their heat by breaking the Commonwealth Games record and then repeated that to win gold for New Zealand. We stood there just taking in the moment.

The emotions kicked - 18,000km away from home in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome with a feeling of immense pride in being a Kiwi. The medal ceremony is a moment to remember - a smattering of black-shirted Kiwis banging out God of Nations and celebrating another international sport success.

Back to Scotland's swelling pride, and we attended the swimming at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. The pressure valve was relieved for the host nation as Hannah Miley retained her 400m individual medley Commonwealth Games gold medal and then Ross Murdoch caused a major boilover in winning the 200m breaststroke gold over fellow pin-up boy and hot favourite, Michael Jamieson (and in the process nearly breaking the world record).

The emotion among the swimmers and Scottish fans when Flower of Scotland was sung was a moment you lock away and store forever. The night at the pool was capped off superbly when the Aussie women smashed the world record in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Unfortunately the Kiwi woman were pipped for bronze, as was Lauren Boyle earlier in the night in the 200m freestyle, although it was great to see the emerging talent of Cory Main, who qualified fifth for the final of the 100m backstroke.

Outside the competition, there is a festival atmosphere in Glasgow. The weather is very hot, it is relatively easy to get around the city and as you walk through the streets there is a fantastic vibe - buskers and street entertainers are everywhere and people are enjoying themselves.