News 
Echoes Of Jeux Sans Frontières In Giant Registration Push For Euro Elections
4 May 2009
Elections' Officials Launch Register To Vote Week
Ten foot high giant costumes containing Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, John Edward of the European Parliament Office in Scotland and David Miller, Elections Co-ordinator for Glasgow City Council struggled over obstacles in Glasgow’s George Square to promote the launch of Register to Vote Week. The creation of a Jeux Sans Frontières / It’s a Knockout style event formed part of the Commission’s campaign to encourage people to make sure they are registered to vote in the June 4 European Parliamentary elections.
Ten foot giants stumbling over hurdles in a bid to reach a giant inflatable X featured in the Electoral Commission’s recreation of Europe’s best known obstacle competition. Jeux Sans Frontières, the Europe wide version of It’s a Knockout ran on UK TV screens from 1967 to 1982 and featured teams from different countries competing to carry out bizarre tasks in ludicrous costumes.
Glasgow’s George Square saw a brief revival of this much loved competition to mark the UK launch of register to vote week on Bank Holiday Monday May 4. To be able to vote in the June 4 European Parliamentary elections people must be registered by May 19.
“Don’t let anything stop you from voting in the European elections! That’s the message we want to get across to people”, explained Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland. “What better way to remind people than by introducing the comic challenges of Jeux Sans Frontière to a new generation of voters”.
“The good news is that registering to vote is a lot easier than navigating an obstacle course dressed in a giant costume”, added Andy O’Neill. “All you need to do is print off a form from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk and return it by May 19, or contact your local registration office for a form.”
/ends
For further information about registration or other aspects of the June elections contact:
Lynne Veitch or Shaheena Abbas on 0131 556 0770
Out of hours: 07967 11 11 97
Email elections@pagodapr.com
Notes to editors
1.To register to vote, or for more information, including to visit our virtual polling station, visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
2.You can register to vote if you live in the UK and are aged 18 or over on polling day and a British, Irish Republic, EU or qualifying Commonwealth citizen. British citizens living overseas are also eligible to vote if they have been registered in the UK in the past ten years. Members of the UK armed forces serving abroad can also vote.
3.The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public confidence in the UK’s democratic process. We regulate party and election finance and set standards for well-run elections. The responsibility for running elections and overseeing the count lies with Returning Officers and the Electoral Commission reports afterwards on the administration of elections in the UK.
4. Jeux Sans Frontières was broadcast from 1965 to 1999 under the auspices of the European Broadcasting Union and involved about eight countries in each programme. At its height of popularity the program drew 110 million viewers across Europe. In the UK, participating teams came from the heats of It's a Knockout. The presenter Stuart Hall provided the British commentary and was responsible for the catch phrase ‘Here come the Belgians!’. Wales had its own team between 1991 and 1994 and the programme was broadcast on S4C. It’s a Knockout was revived on Channel 5 between 1999 and 2001. There is a petition calling on the European Broadcasting Union to bring the competition back.
5. The show inspired Peter Gabriel's 1980 hit single, "Games Without Frontiers", in which backing vocalist Kate Bush sings "Jeux sans Frontières" during breaks. The lyrics also refer to the original title: "It's a Knockout".
