Commonwealth Games 2014: UNICEF fundraising appeal raises £3.1 million in Britain

UNICEF Ambassador Chris Hoy

Glasgow, July 25 (IANS) The appeal to raise funds for UNICEF at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games has already fetched £3.1 million in Britain alone.

More than 500,000 people donated five pounds by texting the word FIRST to 70333 within half an hour of an emotional presentation at Celtic Park by Chris Hoy and actor James McAvoy, reports the Telegraph. India's cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was also among the UNICEF goodwill ambassadors who appealed to donate funds.

Figures from other nations and territories of the Commonwealth are still being collated by the UN agency for children's fund. The appeal beamed around the world, and 40,000 cheering spectators in the stadium, was the first of its kind at the opening ceremony of a major sporting event.

During the ceremony, McAvoy said: "This has never been done before, this many people in a single moment all coming together to make a life-saving difference to millions of children."