Team Scotland
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All at Team Scotland send their congratulations to Commonwealth Games Australia and the State of Victoria, after confirmation from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) that the first ever predominantly regional Commonwealth Games will be hosted across the State in 2026.

Victoria 2026 will be staged in March 2026 across multiple cities and regional hubs including Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland. The Opening Ceremony will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of the venues when Melbourne played host to the 2006 Games.

Paul Bush, OBE, Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland said:

“Many congratulations to Commonwealth Games Australia and Victoria on being awarded the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Australia has a strong track record in providing a great atmosphere for athletes, officials, volunteers, and spectators across five previous Games. Twenty years on from the hugely successful Melbourne 2006 Games, we are sure the state of Victoria will make a fabulous host once again in this new Games hosting model.

“Team Scotland has performed strongly at Commonwealth Games held on Australian soil, with record overseas medal tallies set at Perth 1962, Brisbane 1982, Melbourne 2006 and, most recently, Gold Coast 2018. We welcome the opportunity for our athletes to strive for more success ‘Down Under’ in four years’ time.

“We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Commonwealth Games Australia, the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Victoria 2026 Organising Committee to get behind the Games.”

The first 16 sports on the programme have also been confirmed, with further sports to be added later this year.

Read more on the CGF website here: CGF confirm Victoria, Australia as host of 2026 Commonwealth Games | Commonwealth Games Federation (thecgf.com)

It was a night to remember in Inverclyde as Scotland’s men and women booked their place at this year’s Commonwealth Games with brilliant wins at the Birmingham 2022 Basketball 3 x 3 Qualifiers.

The qualifying tournament, hosted by the National Sports Training Centre, saw Scotland take on Wales and Northern Ireland in a round-robin format, with the top two teams then battling it out in a play-off final for a place at Birmingham 2022.

Basketball 3 x 3 will make its Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham, having featured at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It is a fast-paced game, played on a half court with only one basket and the winner is the first team to 21 points, or whichever team has the highest score after 10 minutes.

Both Scottish teams dominated the round-robin stages, with the women’s side of Kennedy Leonard (London Lions), Erin McGarrachan, Sian Philips (both Caledonia Pride) and Hannah Robb (Leicester Riders) starting their campaign with a 19-7 win over Northern Ireland and 21-4 over Wales.

The men’s team of Kyle Jimenez (Nottingham Hoods), Jonny Bunyan, Fraser Malcolm and Gareth Murray (all Glasgow Rocks), were all part of the Team Scotland side that reached the semi-finals at Gold Coast 2018, and they put that experience into the new 3 x 3 format. They opened with a 21-13 win against Wales and followed up with a second victory 22-4 against Northern Ireland.

In the finals, both men and women faced Northern Ireland and both took convincing wins. The men were up first, winning 21-5 to book their place at Birmingham 2022. The women quickly followed suit with a 21-13 victory, bringing the tournament to a perfect close.

While Team Scotland have been represented in men’s basketball at both Melbourne 2006 and Gold Coast 2018, women’s Head Coach Donnie MacDonald was delighted with a result that will send a women’s team to the Games for the first time:

“This is the first time a Scottish women’s team has been to a Commonwealth Games, so I think that’s bigger than anything. We’ve done something historic, but we’re not satisfied with just going to the Commonwealth Games. We’re going to go there now and actually try to upset a few people.”

Catch up with all the action here: Watch: 3×3 basketball Commonwealth Games qualification event – Live – BBC Sport

Basketball returns to Inverclyde next week with the Wheelchair 3 x 3 Qualifying Tournament on 14 April, where Scotland will be in the hunt for further places at Birmingham 2022.

Commonwealth Games Scotland has today announced that the Scottish netball team has qualified for this summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Currently ranked eighth in the world, the Thistles finished the year on a high after beating Barbados on home soil in December with a dominant display, something which Head Coach Tamsin Greenway believes will hold them in good stead this summer.  “It’s going to be a very busy but exciting few months as we head towards the Commonwealth Games later this year.

“Playing against Barbados at the end of 2021, cementing a top 12 ranking and qualifying for the games was the first aim. Now that has happened we can look forward to building and preparing for the competition.”

Captain Claire Maxwell who led the squad at both Gold Coast 2018 and the 2019 Netball World Cup said “We are ecstatic about qualifying for the Commonwealth Games. It is a pinnacle event in our calendar and we do not take qualification lightly or for granted. The squad are working exceptionally hard to ensure we compete with the highest distinction at Birmingham this summer.”

Vice Captain, Emily Nicholl said “Scotland’s qualification for the Commonwealth Games, in what is our only multi-sport event, is  hugely important to the Scottish Thistles. We couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of playing in front of what is essentially a home crowd.

“We are an ambitious team who have big long term goals but first we must at least match our world ranking which is something we didn’t manage to achieve in 2018.

“Our qualification is just the beginning of our Commonwealth Games journey. We have a really close-knit player and management group and we are going to relish every moment from now until the games start to ensure that when that first whistle goes, we are ready to achieve our goals.”

Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss said “I am delighted for the players, coaching staff and everyone at Scottish Netball that the qualification for Birmingham 2022 has been secured. It is set to be a fantastic competition at the NEC and I have no doubt that the Scottish public will get behind the girls both at home and in Birmingham.”

The netball competition runs from 29 July to 7 August at the NEC Arena, where Scotland will join Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa, Malawi, Uganda, Wales, Trinidad and Tobago, Northern Ireland and Barbados in the competition.

Scotland fielded a netball team for the first time at a Games during Glasgow 2014, having climbed steadily up the rankings over the previous four years.

Commonwealth Games Scotland has today announced that both the women’s and men’s hockey squads have qualified for next year’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Scotland has been represented in both men’s and women’s since hockey since it became a sport at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur 1998.

Currently ranked seventh in the Commonwealth nations, the woman’s side secured their invite to Birmingham after a strong performance in the 2022 Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup (European Qualifier) in Pisa in October, where they finished third overall.

The men’s side qualified after finishing fifth in the 2022 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup (European Qualifier) in Cardiff and as a result of finishing runner up in the Men’s EuroHockey Championship II in August.

Chris Duncan, Head Coach of Scotland women, said, “We’re really excited to have secured our place in Birmingham this summer. The Commonwealth Games is the kind of competition that everyone looks forward to; from a Scotland perspective it’s the one multi-sport and multi-national competition we can compete in as a nation and we’re really excited by the massive opportunity that lies ahead.

“It’s obviously not a home games like it was in Glasgow 2014, but with the Games being down in Birmingham it almost feels like home as we know our support will travel.

“I’m really humbled to have the opportunity to lead Scotland and I’m excited to get down there. I can’t wait for the whistle to blow in that first game.”

Head Coach of Scotland men Derek Forsyth said, “I’m delighted that our qualification for Birmingham has been confirmed and we’re very much looking forward to the training in the build-up as well as the competition itself. The players worked tremendously hard to qualify and it’s a very young and talented squad who will be vying for selection.

“The Commonwealth Games is a tremendous competition for the team and will be fantastic for everyone to be part of. It’s a great challenge and one we’re looking forward to, but we have a lot of hard work to do as we prepare for the tournament.”

Scotland and Great Britain internationalist Amy Costello was a student at the University of Birmingham, and used to play on the pitch that will be used for the Commonwealth Games. Talking about the opportunity, Amy said, “I’m really excited for Birmingham, it’ll be strange playing on my university pitches.

“Birmingham is a great city; they’ll pull together – similar to Glasgow and Gold Coast – to create a really good atmosphere. I’m really looking forward to it as it’ll be really special for me if I get the opportunity to go.”

Youngster Robbie Croll, who has been part of the men’s squad over the last year, added, “It’s really exciting. We have worked really hard over the last year to qualify so to have it confirmed now is really exciting and I’m really looking forward to the training this summer.

“Obviously I’ve never been in the squad for a Commonwealth Games, so I need to keep working hard and hopefully be in the mix for selection.”

Congratulating the squad on their success, Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland Chef de Mission said: “Huge congratulations to everyone at Scottish Hockey on securing qualification for both the men’s and women’s squads.

“The hockey competitions are set to be really strong during the Games and I am looking forward to watching our teams in action after a strong year of results. I have no doubt that thousands of fans in Birmingham, and back home, will be get behind our heroes and back our teams all the way.”

The hockey competition runs from 29 July to 8 August at the University of Birmingham Hockey and Squash Centre.

Team Scotland’s momentum towards the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games continues to pick up pace with the selection of an eight-strong line up in Para Lawn Bowls.

With Birmingham 2022 set to have the largest para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history, four men and four women will make up Scotland’s Para Lawn Bowls team competing at Leamington Spa’s Victoria Park this summer.

Garry Hood returns for a second Commonwealth Games appearance, an incredible 28 years after his first. He finished seventh in the Men’s Fours at Victoria 1994, playing alongside the legendary Wille Wood. Now, after an inspiring battle back from serious illness, he will once again pull on the colours of Team Scotland.

“When I got the phone call to tell me I was on the team, I could have cried,” he said. Five years ago I thought I would never walk again, so it’s hard to describe. I look back at where I’ve been, the bad days, eleven months in hospital, paralysed for most of it and you would never believe you’re even going to be considered to play at the top level in the game again.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, frustration, pain, but I’m delighted the hard work’s paid off. After about a year I started to realise that I was getting back to what I had been and I realised how fortunate I am, having been a bowler, to be able to carry on. It’s been a great motivator and help for me. To go from being more worried about falling on the green, to being selected for the Home Nations where we went undefeated in the Pairs, to being selected for Team Scotland, I just can’t believe it.”

Garry will be partnered by Kevin Wallace in the B6-B8 Men’s Pairs, who is also returning for a second Games with Team Scotland after finishing 4th in the B6/B7/B8 Mixed Triples at Glasgow 2014.

2015 World Mixed Pairs silver medallist and nine-time world wheelchair curler Rosemary Lenton, will partner Pauline Wilson in the B6-B8 Women’s Pairs as both make their debut for Team Scotland at a Commonwealth Games.

Pauline, who has lived in Scotland since 2018, is no stranger to the Games however, having skipped Wales to sixth place in the B6/B7/B8 Triples at Gold Coast.

Robert Barr and his director Sarah Jane Ewing, make a return to Team Scotland following a 4th place finish in Gold Coast in the B2/B3 Mixed Pairs. Melanie Inness, directed by George Miller, will partner Robert this time around and the pair will be aiming for the podium in Birmingham.

George will make a little piece of history of his own in Birmingham, as at 75 years and 8 months when the Games begin, not only will he be the oldest athlete selected for Team Scotland for this year’s Games to date, but he will also take the all-time record from Willie Wood, who was 72 years old at his eighth and final Games in 2010.

“I feel a little bit embarrassed to be honest,” said George. Willie Wood is one of the greatest bowlers of all-time. You don’t have to do anything to get old, it just happens. It’s all about the enjoyment, the camaraderie that you get when you play any sport that you like. Being able to carry on is easy, because you see these people enjoying themselves, you see them playing great bowls, so it’s fantastic, absolutely fantastic.”

Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “Huge congratulations to all of the athletes who have been selected to represent Scotland this summer. We look forward to them representing their families, communities and country with pride in Birmingham this summer.

“There is a huge amount of experience in this Para Lawn Bowls team. Scottish Para Lawn Bowls has performed well over the years and we wish them every success this summer in Birmingham.”

Bowls Scotland’s Para Bowls Co-Ordinator, Bob Christie, added: “During the selection period all the squad performed to a very high standard which made it extremely difficult to select the chosen athletes.

“With a change in format for the para programme to include men’s and women’s physically disabled pairs along with the visually impaired mixed pairs, I believe we have selected a talented team to compete and bring back success to Scotland.

“In preparation for Birmingham 2022 the athletes will undergo a period of squad days, specific training and test matches at the venue to be ready for the Games in great form and mind.

“Personally, I wish all the athletes and support staff a great Birmingham 2022 and look forward to working with the full squad.”

Today’s selections bring the total number of athletes named to Team Scotland to 28, following team announcements for Athletics, Swimming, Diving, Triathlon and Lawn Bowls in 2021.

SELECTED ATHLETES (8)

Robert Barr

Sarah Jane Ewing (Director)

Garry Hood

Melanie Inness

Rosemary Lenton

George Miller (Director)

Kevin Wallace

Pauline Wilson

Team Scotland are delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Wood as Women’s Rugby Sevens Team Manager for Birmingham 2022!

Woody is no stranger to the sport, having spent the last eight years working for Scottish Rugby as Medical Co-Ordinator and, since 2017, Medical Services Manager.

He will support the preparation of the Women’s Rugby Sevens team ahead of their debut appearance at a Commonwealth Games, achieved following an impressive fourth place finish at last year’s Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Series.

Woody said: “Being selected as team manager for Team Scotland Women Rugby Sevens is a huge honour, especially at their first Commonwealth Games.

“We have an exciting group of players, led by an excellent coach in Scott Forrest, and I look forward to helping the players enjoy what will be a great occasion.”

Chef de Mission Elinor Middlemiss said: “We are delighted to have Woody join our Sport Team Management group.

“He will be an asset not only to our preparations with the Women’s Rugby Sevens side, but also the wider Team Scotland support staff.”

“It is a very exciting year for Women’s Rugby in Scotland and we hope the team can put on a strong showing in Birmingham.”

Team Scotland is pleased to confirm the appointment of its media staff, to provide first class specialist support to the athletes competing at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Sophie Ashcroft has been appointed as Head of Media for the Games and joins the team with a wealth of experience working across a variety of sports and major events.

Currently the Head of Marketing and Communications at leading football charity, the Foundation of Light, Sophie brings a large amount of multi-Games experience having worked in press operations at Tokyo 2020 and Glasgow 2014. Sophie has also held senior communications roles within Sunderland AFC, UK Anti-Doping, British Athletics and British tennis. She has a close connection with Scottish sport having sat on the Scottish Hockey Board and is a retired FIH international hockey umpire.

Commonwealth Games Scotland’s Digital Services and Communications Manager, Gillian Cooke – a former international long jumper and bobsleigh world champion – has been appointed as Deputy Head of Media for Birmingham 2022. During her third Commonwealth Games, Gillian will lead a strong digital team as well as provide support for seven media officers.

Pete Matthews and Louise Stewart, who were both part of Team Scotland at Gold Coast 2018, have returned for their second Games. Both have extensive experience working within major Games environments, with Pete heading up communications for Scottish Cycling and Louise working for Glasgow Life.

Sarah Bell, Media Manager at Scottish Rugby has been appointed for her first Commonwealth Games alongside Tom Everett, Corporate Communications Manager for The Football Association; Beth Moorley, Communications Officer for UK Sport; and Paul Elliott who is a well-known face within Scottish Hockey having led their communications for over five years.

Josephine Watkinson, who has worked many multi-sport Games with organising committees, has been appointed to look after the celebrating success processes, whilst Julia Stenhouse has been appointed as Digital Media Officer, following her work with Team GB during Tokyo 2020.

Sophie Ashcroft commented “I am honoured to be leading this fantastic media team at the Games this summer. We have secured some of the best press officers in the country and I have every confidence that the team will provide a first-class service to not only the Team Scotland athletes but also the journalists and media attending the Games.”

Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland Chef de Mission for Birmingham 2022 said: “I am delighted we have appointed such a hugely experienced team of media specialists, ready for Birmingham this summer.

“Our media team plays a key role in supporting our athletes, helping to promote their achievements up to and at the Games themselves. With less than six months to go until the Games, the excitement is really starting to build, and we are looking forward to a really exciting summer.

Scottish records tumbled and qualifying standards achieved as Scottish athletes step up the pace in the race to secure places on Team Scotland at next summer’s Commonwealth Games. Here are some of the highlights across a busy weekend of sport…

Athletics

Josh Kerr was in racing action for the first time since claiming Olympic bronze in Tokyo and was in fantastic form, breaking the Scottish record as he finished second to Australia’s Ollie Hoare in the Wanamaker Mile in New York.

Clocking 3.52.27, he took the Scottish mark from Chris O’Hare and came close to Peter Elliot’s British record of 3.52.02.

There was also a World Indoor Championships qualifying performance for Neil Gourley as he clocked 7:48.94 over 3000m to win in Arkansas.

Closer to home Jenny Selman posted an impressive run in Glasgow on Saturday to go fifth on the Scottish indoor all-time list over 800m. Her time of 2:01.84 was close to both the GB World Indoors standard (2:01.50) and Commonwealth Games standard (2:01.39).

Cycling

Cameron Mason took a fantastic 5th place at the U23 World Cyclocross Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Saturday. Eventual winner Joran Wyseure of Belgium stole a march on the field in the second lap, with teammate Emiel Verstrynge in second. Meanwhile Cameron worked his way through the field to end up in a battle for the bronze medal in the final lap where he was eventually out sprinted by Nys of Belgium and Hendrix of the Netherlands to finish fifth.

Luisa Steele and Jonathan Wale were the stand-out performers at the Commonwealth Games Qualifier, held at Glasgow’s Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. Luisa broke the Scottish Flying 200m record, not once but twice, with her record-breaking rides of 11.162 and 11.160 also inside the selection standard for Birmingham 2022.

Jonathan put down a marker in the Men’s Individual Pursuit on Day 1 with a 4:13.141, close to four seconds inside the qualifying standard for the Games. He returned on Day 2 to also post a qualifying time in the Kilo with 1.01.577.

Weightlifting

Scottish lifters brought home five medals from the British Weightlifting Championships in Derby, a qualifying opportunity fir the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

With Team Scotland experience already under their belts from Gold Coast 2018, Jodey Hughes and Lisa Tobias are in the hunt for a place at this summer’s Games once again, with both claiming a podium place this weekend. Jodey took silver in the 55kg event and Lisa bronze in the 49kg.

There was bronze too for Alice Aitchison in the 71kg category, as well as for Agata Herbert in the 76kg and Craig Carfray in the 67kg events. Jason Epton, who represented Team Scotland at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games was just off the podium in 4th in the 81kg event, as was Lucas Clarke in the 73kg category.

Beach Volleyball

Scottish beach volleyball pairing Lynne Beattie and Mel Coutts are into tonight’s final of the Reykjavik International Games. The duo, who represented Team Scotland at Gold Coast 2018, finished top of their pool in the qualifying stages and are one of five teams through to the final round which will be played in a ‘King of the Court’ format consisting of 15 minute rounds.

Scotland’s hopes of securing the one remaining place in Women’s T20 Cricket at Birmingham 2022 were dashed, as their Commonwealth Games qualifying tournament campaign ended in defeat to Bangladesh in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday.

Scotland bounced back from an opening defeat by eventual tournament winners Sri Lanka to beat the host nation Malaysia and then made it two wins from three with a victory in a rain-shortened contest over Kenya.

Bangladesh, the pre-tournament favourites, proved too strong in the final match and the nine wicket loss at the Kinrara Oval meant that the Scots finished the event in third place, with two wins from four.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the top two in the table after the round-robin stages, played off for the place at next summer’s Games, with Sri Lanka coming out on top by 22 runs.

 

Buoyed with confidence after a 2021 to remember, Scotland are set to stake their claim for a place at Birmingham 2022, as the Women’s T20 Cricket Commonwealth Games Qualifier begins tomorrow (18 Jan) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

With women’s cricket making its Commonwealth Games debut, this tournament will decide the eighth and final team to play at Birmingham this summer with the winner joining Australia, Barbados, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.

Scotland will face tough opposition this week from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Kenya and Bangladesh for the one remaining place, but come into the tournament full of confidence gained from an emphatic win at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier in La Manga four months ago.

“We’ve taken a lot of confidence and belief from [La Manga] in knowing that we can do it,” said team captain Kathryn Bryce. “It shows how we’ve developed over the last couple of years and just how far we’ve come. Even from the couple of tournaments we played last year, we’re bringing a lot of confidence into this even though we know it’s going to be a pretty big challenge.

“The fact that it’s a Commonwealth Games, with all that represents, makes being involved in it a really exciting prospect,” said captain Kathryn Bryce. “I was in Glasgow [in 2014], and the way in which it brought everyone together from so many different sports was amazing. Even the qualifying side of it, a completely different tournament to the usual ones we play, is very exciting for us to be a part of.”

Having arrived in Malaysia at the start of January and completed a seven day quarantine, the team have been back in training ahead of their opening game against Sri Lanka on Tuesday and will look to build on a strong warm up match performance against tournament favourites Bangladesh, where they were just 12 runs away from victory.

Head coach Mark Coles is pleased with how things have been shaping up in Kuala Lumpur, not least adapting to the change from training in the Scottish winter to the considerably warmer local conditions.

“I’m very happy,” said Mark. “We had an open wicket, 28-over game in 34 degree heat which got us acclimatised pretty quickly, and I was delighted by the way in which the girls went about their business. I can safely say that that was the best session that I’ve seen since I’ve been involved: the intensity, the fearlessness – it was a very, very good practice.

“The key now is to keep improving on that, to get that one percent better every day, but it was a very good start.”

All matches will be live-streamed via icc.tv and live-scored on icc-cricket.com.

Full Schedule:

18th January: Scotland v Sri Lanka (5.15am UK time)

19th January: Scotland v Malaysia (5.15am UK time)

22nd January: Scotland v Kenya (1.30am UK time)

23rd January: Scotland v Bangladesh (1.30am UK time)

Travelling squad:

Abbi Aitken-Drummond; Kathyrn Bryce (c); Sarah Bryce (wk); Priyanaz Chatterji; Katherine Fraser; Lorna Jack; Ailsa Lister; Abtaha Maqsood; Megan McColl; Katie McGill; Hannah Rainey; Charis Scott; Rachel Slater; Ellen Watson

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