World No 27 squash player Alan Clyne has played in major events right across the world but never before in Glasgow.

That could be about to change when the Commonwealth Games arrives in the city next year, giving the Inverness 26 year old and the sport in general its best opportunity ever to showcase itself to the Scottish public.

Clyne competed in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, partnering Harry Leitch in the doubles and just missing out on a medal. It’s a score he plans to redress second time around.

“My ultimate ambition in a Commonwealth Games is to medal and I want the medal to be gold”, he declares.
“Last time we came fourth, just missing out on a medal but I reckon we have improved since then and we will hopefully get into the medals and try and make it as high as possible.”

“The singles will be tough with England looking pretty strong at the moment but I’m still hoping to try and get a medal. The doubles is our big opportunity though.”

Last month Team Scotland’s qualification period opened for squash athletes. To gain a singles place Clyne needs to keep his singles ranking in the world’s top 30 between the start of next year and May 1, or achieve at least two wins against top 20 players in recognised events between now and May 15 next year. In the doubles he has at least three events in which to achieve qualification.

If he is selected then he is likely to be one of the fittest athletes competing for Team Scotland in Glasgow next summer. Qualifying as a PE teacher from Edinburgh University before embarking on a full time squash career in 2008, he certainly practises what he preaches.

When not involved in a tournament he trains twice a day for six days a week, combining strength training, circuits and cardiovascular sessions on a treadmill and bike with his on court activity.

“It’s quite a heavy regime but I think it’s one of my strong points and I’m one of the fittest guys”, said Clyne who is coached by Roger Flynn at Edinburgh’s Herriot Watt University.

“There is always room for improvement and I’m working on technique and tactics with Roger at the moment. My game has improved a lot since he took charge and through the work we are doing I’m trying to raise my game a bit further.”

A worthy prize for improvement would be a medal in the Glasgow Games. The memories from Delhi are still clearly etched on Clyne and a supportive Scottish public would almost put the Glasgow Games off the scale of personal highs.

“Being in the Commonwealth Games as part of a big team with lots of other sports and athletes together with a huge crowd was a fantastic experience”, he said.

“I’ve not really had any big events in Scotland before so hopefully I can qualify and have friends and family in Glasgow with a big Scottish crowd behind us.”

“Home support means a lot and it spurs you on when you get on court. I’m hoping everyone will get behind Team Scotland and hopefully we can better our medal tally from last time. Having great support from the Scottish public will help us achieve that.”

You can follow Alan on Twitter @Clynesquash

Photo Credit: Alistair Devine

62 Scottish high performance athletes with the potential to deliver a podium finish at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Sochi Olympic Winter Games have been boosted with the news that they are recipients of individual sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards (SAPAs).

Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, joined sportscotland Chair Louise Martin CBE and sportscotland Director of High Performance Mike Whittingham to announce the Scottish athletes and sports being given the awards.

Amongst the SAPA recipients and Team Scotland hopefuls, three-time Paralympic track cycling gold medallist Aileen McGlynn and recent badminton French International mixed doubles winners, Imogen Bankier and Robert Blair were also in attendance.

£396,917 has been allocated to 15 sports in the second round of three SAPA announcements, which is a significant increase from the first investment of £204,000 and 13 sports, supported during financial year 2011/12.

So far, with a further round to go, £600,917 has been invested in the SAPAs, which have benefitted athletes such as Commonwealth Games medallists athletics’ Eilidh Child, shooting’s Jennifer McIntosh, and weightlifting’s Peter Kirkbride.

Within the second year’s investment, badminton and cycling have also received team medal support awards of £30,000 and £40,000 respectively. Hockey will also be supported through a team award.

Commenting, Shona Robison said: “We are now approaching the business end of the athletes’ preparations and all the work they are doing with the Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport and the world-class support they are receiving from the sportscotland institute of sport coaches, scientists, and experts has ensured that Team Scotland’s athletes will be the best prepared going into a Commonwealth Games.”

The awards are from the sportscotand Lottery Fund and additional investment from the Scottish Government. Awards help the athletes cover training, competition, and living costs. Additional support in these areas can be invaluable for athletes striving for Commonwealth or Olympic success.

Louise Martin added: “I am delighted to see that there are now more athletes and more sports receiving more investment from the sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards. This is the second SAPA announcement and when the third and final list of recipients is unveiled, we will have put more than a million pounds into supporting well over 100 Scottish athletes.

“Using a mixture of Lottery and Scottish Government funding, we are building a world-class system for high performance athletes in Scotland and this is an important component of delivering the sporting legacy from hosting the Commonwealth Games. Initiatives such as SAPAs can help deliver success on the global stage.”

The sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards (SAPA) were established as a three-year initiative specifically targeted at potential medal-winning athletes for Glasgow 2014, covering the three-year period before the Games. This initiative is one of many planned to make a difference to our Scottish athletes as they prepare for a home soil Commonwealth Games in 2014 in Glasgow.

Mike Whittingham said: “Some of our athletes are already on UK-funded world-class programmes and require a ‘top-up’, while others are in the early stages of their high performance career and need that additional support to help them train and compete at the right level as they approach 2014.

“SAPAs help ensure that Scottish athletes have the time to be fully focussed and concentrate on important areas such as recovery and injury prevention. It is challenging to achieve success on the word stage and meticulous preparation is an essential ingredient.

Scotland is increasingly becoming a great place to be a high performance athlete as we have growing investment coupled with new world-class facilities and equipment. The ability to increase training and contact time with coaches will help enormously as Team Scotland and its athletes aim to deliver success and to help achieve their best ever results at the Commonwealth Games.”

SAPA recipient track cyclist Aileen McGlynn said:
“I am delighted to have been awarded an individual sportscotland Athlete Personal Award, which will provide the added assistance required to help me compete at the highest level in Glasgow next year.

“And with cycling also receiving a Team Award, the sport will be the best prepared it has ever been heading into a Commonwealth Games. This investment, coupled with the passionate home crowd cheering us on in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, will undoubtedly help all the cyclists to perform to the best of their abilities and hopefully see us deliver medals for Team Scotland.”

Welcoming the announcement Team Scotland Chef de Mission Jon Doig said: “We would like to thank sportscotland for putting this scheme in place, which will greatly enhance the opportunity for athletes to gain selection and deliver medals for Team Scotland in Glasgow next year.

“At the highest level of sport, it is all about small margins and we believe that with SAPAs playing a key part in the integrated progamme of high performance support provide by the institute and its partners, it can help us achieve those crucial marginal gains.”

For a full list of the athletes receiving SAPAs see downloads section on left of this page.

Badminton ace Kirsty Gilmour could be forgiven for feeling the weight of expectation upon her shoulders with the Commonwealth Games around the corner.

The 19-year-old’s stock has risen as quickly as her world ranking after securing three senior titles in the space of eight wonderful weeks in 2012.

Now comfortably in the world’s top 50 in both singles and doubles, Gilmour is in pole position to pick up the singles mantle in Glasgow, with bronze medallist Susan Egelstaff electing to hang up her racket.

But the likeable teenager from Bothwell is a cool customer as she looks ahead to qualifying for what would be her second Commonwealth Games.

She said: “The past season has been my best yet and if I’m being honest, it’s been ridiculous. With Susan [Egelstaff] retiring, it has allowed me to get more one-on-one time with our coach Yvette [Yun Luo]. She is the smartest person I’ve ever met; she has so much knowledge and that’s helped me rise up the rankings.”
“Qualification is based on your ranking, so for me it’s a case of maintaining my form and maintaining my ranking. To do that I need to keep playing consistently well.”

Gilmour combines her sport with a Film Making and Screenwriting course at the University of the West of Scotland. She is hoping to make her second senior Commonwealth Games having been selected for Delhi as a precocious 17-year-old, an experience which whetted her appetite to make Team Scotland once again.
She added: “Delhi was the best two and a half weeks of my life. I was there to get some experience of being at a Commonwealth Games more than to win a medal. I set out to be on the court and to stay on it for as long as possible.”

“It’s great to be part of Team Scotland. This time it will be weird just moving out of my house and down the road to Glasgow, but I know quite a lot of the other athletes from crossing paths with them at the Emirates Arena.”

“It’s good to meet other athletes and together you feel like one massive team. You don’t just keep to your sport; if you see someone wearing a Scotland top at dinner you go and talk to them like you’re already best pals. It’s a unique experience.”

Gilmour collected a bronze medal at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, a proud moment for her and her badminton-daft family, her uncle collecting a team bronze at Manchester 2002 whilst her dad coached emerging talent such as world mixed doubles silver medallist Imogen Bankier during his time with the national junior squads.

“My mum always gets quite annoyed that I don’t mention she won the U19 Scottish Schools Mixed Doubles too”, joked Gilmour. “Hopefully there will be lots of opportunities for my family and friends to come along to watch me in Glasgow as they don’t get a lot of chances to see me competing across the world”.

“To have a chance of competing in front of a home crowd, with friends and family cheering me on, would be just perfect.”

You can follow Kirsty on Twitter @KirstyGilmour

Photo Credit: Alistair Devine

Scott Forrest is making something of a name for himself in Scottish boxing, with a string of strong performances over the past 12 months, culminating in a senior title at the 2013 Scottish Championships.

“My best experience so far was winning a silver medal at the World Youth Championships last year”, says the light heavyweight, who has now won a Scottish Championships title for five years in a row. Having started out boxing for fun, Forrest is now turning his focus towards Glasgow 2014, and his first Commonwealth Games.

Scott says: “It’s something I’ve always been interested in since I was a kid. I started off in my local club and it was never anything serious, it was just a hobby, but I’ve just tried my best throughout and I’ve gotten better and better.”
“Training up ahead of the Commonwealth Games has been brilliant. I’ve been all over the world and it’s just been a great experience seeing everything.”

Scotland’s boxers have won a medal at every Commonwealth Games since they started in 1930, and Scott has ambitions to join the ranks of Callum Johnson, Kenny Anderson, Craig McEwan and Stephen Simmonds by winning a medal in Glasgow.

“Glasgow is a great opportunity”, says Forrest. “To be able to compete in front of the home crowd would be a fantastic experience and you saw in London that there’s no better crowd than the ones here in Britain. A home crowd will always push you that wee bit further.

“I just need to keep doing well, and get a few international bouts under my belt before the Games. The more fights you win, the more points you get, which will all add up to securing a place on Team Scotland for the Games.”

The competition for places for the Games is hot, but Scott is focused on his own plans. “I’m not worried about anyone else. I’m confident that I can do this”, he says. “I’m at college studying sport and fitness but I can still fit in at least two training sessions a day but I quite often do three. Glasgow would be the biggest tournament I’d have competed at so far and then I’d love to go to Rio in 2016 for the Olympics.”

You can follow Scott on Twitter @ScottForrest94

Photo Credit: Alistair Devine

At just 14 years of age, Grace Reid was Scotland’s youngest ever team member when she qualified for the Diving 3m springboard event at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.

Not quite able to believe the magnitude of her achievement, she captured the hearts of the nation when she explained that her love of diving was because “it is the closest thing to flying”. At the Games she went on to acquit herself well finishing 6th in the final, setting a new personal best in the process. It was also the first time that a British junior diver had scored over 300 points.

Recalling her memories of competing in Delhi Grace said: “When we were walking into the closing ceremony and all I could see was a sea of blue and white, I finally understood how big the Games were and the enormity of being part of the Team Scotland.”

Still only 16, Grace who lives in Edinburgh and goes to George Watson’s College where Sir Chris Hoy embarked on his sporting journey, is making steady progress through the British diving ranks. She has already posted the qualification score required to compete in Glasgow 2014, although sadly it was prior to the selection period opening. This was at the British Diving Championships held in Plymouth in February this year, where she won her first British senior title on the 3m springboard and bronze in the 1m event, despite still technically being a junior.
The two years following Delhi were made even more hectic than normal for Grace, with the closure of the Royal Commonwealth Pool (RCP) for refurbishment ahead of the Commonwealth Games, forcing her to travel to Leeds most weekends to access suitable diving facilities.

“Travelling to Leeds was definitely tricky and did test my dedication at times. Some weekends I just wanted to be a teenager, but I knew I needed to keep training if I wanted to get better. Also school is hard and it’s sometimes a nightmare to try and balance everything, but as most athletes think it’s so worth it and they work to distract you from the other when one gets hard.”

“My coach helps me work out a slightly moderated training schedule if I’m finding school too much and my teachers really understand. It is hard to find time to do normal things, but that just goes with the territory and I have the best group of friends in the world, who are always there for me.”

“I am really excited to be back training in Edinburgh again, and to have my coach Jenny (Leeming) back. It is also good to have a training partner as James Heatly also trains at the RCP.”

Another challenge she has had to cope with is the fact that she has grown 10cm since her Games debut in 2010 which has had a major impact on her technique. Explaining she said: “Growing taller has changed things a lot and everyone keeps saying ‘you’re not little Grace anymore’. But it’s quite exciting because it means I’m getting more like the experienced girls I’m up against. Even a few centimetres can make the biggest difference, you find the simplest things so difficult just because your legs have gotten a tiny bit longer which is so frustrating but it’s a game of patience.”

“I had to master growing 10cm which proved extremely challenging, I had to re-learn dives and alter my hurdle step (the equivalent of a golf swing to a diver) as my stride was now longer. I have two superb strength and conditioning coaches who motivate me and get me through tough sessions three times a week. This is helping me to gain strength and develop increased muscle definition, which is vital to condition your body once you have grown, but being stronger now has only made my diving that much better.”

Having just missed out on selection for London 2012 and having to watch the action from the stands it would mean the world to Grace to be selected for Glasgow 2014.

“To compete at my home pool in Edinburgh in the Commonwealth Games would be another major milestone in my diving career I’m pretty sure, because that where I learnt to dive and where I have grown up pretty much. I’ve had some hard and good times there with training, but to dive in front of a home crowd would be a dream come true.”

Photo Credit: Alistair Devine

When you ask Judoka Sally Conway what her future ambitions are, she will give you a straightforward answer: “I want to be Commonwealth Champion and an Olympic medallist”, she says.

Having competed at the London 2012 Olympics, Sally’s focus is now set on qualification for Glasgow. She said: “I haven’t competed at the Commonwealth Games before so Glasgow will be my first one, which I am really excited about. You need to be number one in your weight category and pick up some good results at key events throughout the year. The European and World Championships are going to be key competitions for me.”

“I tore ligaments in my shoulder in London so I just want to get as many fights in as I can before those competitions. Judo Scotland has been brilliant with support to get my back fighting fit again.”

The experience in London is something Conway says she can build on towards Glasgow, with the prospect of another home Games giving her all the motivation she needs. “London was the best experience I’ve ever had”, she says. “From the opening ceremony to the closing it was great, and the support we had from the home crowd was unbelievable.”

“The result I got at the Games was disappointing and it obviously wasn’t what I wanted but I’m going to take as much out of the experience as possible so by the time Glasgow comes around and then Rio two years after that I’ll hopefully be on top form.”

Being part of the team in London is something Sally thrived on, and she says it is something that will be even more important in Glasgow. “I really liked being in the village with all the different athletes from all those different countries. You got to meet new people and chat to athletes about their sport and I managed to get to watch a few different sports too.”

“It’s about being part of that team. In London we were all Team GB and when you walk past someone in that tracksuit, even if you don’t know them, you still say hi. You feel as it you know them because you’re on the same team. Glasgow will be the same. Even if you don’t know one another personally you still want them to do well.”

Sally has seen how passionate the crowds were during London 2012, and is already looking forward to what it will be like in Glasgow next July. “Being in Glasgow and competing in front of a home crowd is something that I think we’re all excited about”, she says. “When we came back from the Games and went on the parade round Glasgow the turn-out for that was incredible. People packed out the streets and took over the pavements and the roads to come and support the Scottish athletes and I think that was just a taster of what to expect at the Commonwealth Games.”

“That support builds you up and helps to give you the confidence to go out there and perform to the best of your ability. If things aren’t going your way during a fight the crowd can get behind you and really lift you up and push you that little bit further in order to win. It’s hugely important for people to back us.

With European Championships approaching at the end of April, clearly Sally Conway is feeling good and looks back on track with her sporting journey to Glasgow.

You can follow Sally on Twitter @sconway70

Photo Credit: Alistair Devine

Having competed at the London 2012 Olympics, 18-year old swimmer Craig Benson from Livingston is focusing all his efforts on achieving the qualification standard and selection for another home games; this time representing Team Scotland.

Craig said: “The Commonwealth Games is the only time you can represent Scotland making it a special and unique event. Scots are passionate and having a home crowd cheering me on would be amazing and I can’t wait.”
Benson was part of Scotland’s Commonwealth Youth Games squad at the Isle of Man back in 2011 and has fond memories of his Team Scotland experience to date.

“It was very different to a normal swimming competition as there were team-mates I didn’t know competing in different sports, but we were all there through the common theme of sport. We were only a small team, around a dozen swimmers, but we all got on really well together and there was great camaraderie.”
The support from the home crowd in Glasgow will undoubtedly be incredible and Commonwealth Games Scotland wants the whole country to get behind the team. Having witnessed home support in London, Craig has one clear message for the people of Scotland:

“I think there will be a great family feel to the Games in Glasgow. We are probably not going to see another home Games for a very long time, so be a part of it. It would be an amazing feeling to know you were there when one of us wins a Commonwealth gold medal and does something special. Every single person who gets behind you definitely helps and gets the best performance out of you. So come along and support Team Scotland.”

Craig left school last year but has deferred his place at Edinburgh University to read Accountancy & Finance for a year, to concentrate on swimming and making his mark on the world stage.

“This season my main focus is selection to the World Championships team for Barcelona; the trials are at the end of June. Once I’m in the team I’m aiming to get into my first senior final on the world stage, which will hopefully put me in good stead for next year and the selection trials for Glasgow.”

With Scotland able to boast a number of breaststrokers all contending for just three places, training and final preparation will inevitably be key leading up to the trials next March.

“The qualifying times are all out now so I know what I need to do and who I need to beat. As well as achieving the time you need a top three finish. There could be five or six of us in with a shout; it’s not going to be easy but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

You can follow Craig on Twitter @CraigBenson94

Photo Credit: Alistair Devine

Rugby stalwart Colin Gregor has been part of the International Sevens scene for many years yet still relishes the prospect of playing in front of a home crowd at a home Games, especially having seen the excitement around the London Olympics last year.

Colin said, “I think for an athlete the Home Games must the very pinnacle, especially when you watch the likes of London and you see the buzz that it initially got and what the whole country took from that. Then to think of that happening here and knowing how patriotic Glaswegians and Scots are at putting on a good event and to be participating at such an event would be a massive highlight of my career.”

Colin was part of the Sevens squad for Team Scotland at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games although admits they didn’t perform as well as they had hoped. Having not been released by Glasgow Warriors to compete in Delhi in 2010, he is looking forward to the roar of the crowd in Glasgow and knows how home support can make all the difference.

“It does make a huge difference. People say they don’t hear the crowd when they are playing or competing, I don’t think that’s necessarily true. It can definitely inspire you and lift you, not only when you first run out on to the pitch but as you get more and more tired they give you that lift that you need to just keep on pushing yourself. You know you want to succeed for yourself, your family and your team but you know that if you’ve got this huge crowd behind you, you sure as don’t want to let them down either.”

With Scotland finishing in the top eight at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, the Sevens squad are already guaranteed a place in Glasgow, but despite being part of the Sevens set-up since 2003, Colin is not taking his selection for granted.

He explains, “There is competition for places. Just now we’re a squad of 16 players who are full time and there’s a wider training squad of the same again. Only 12 are selected for the actual Games. Then there’s the added threat of players currently playing for Glasgow or Edinburgh being parachuted into the Sevens, which would undoubtedly strengthen the team, but that obviously means we have to be on the top of our game to be selected onto the squad.”

At 31 years of age Colin has achieved a great deal in his rugby career but remains ambitious about his future.

“The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is up there in terms of ambition. But Rugby Sevens has just been added to the Olympics so if I can continue going until then that would be a massive highlight, but for now I’m just focussing on Glasgow and seeing that as a pinnacle of my career.”

You can follow Colin on Twitter @colingregor

Photo Credit: Alistair Devine

Scotland’s athletes are now under starter’s orders for Glasgow 2014, with the official Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) selection period to qualify for Team Scotland opening at the start of April 2013.

Athletes from the 17 sports on the Games programme will have just over a year to produce the necessary performances to lay claim to a coveted place on the Team, for what promises to be an amazing home Games. What makes it even more special is the fact that the Commonwealth Games is the only multi-sport event where athletes get to compete for Scotland as a nation in its own right.

Already there are indications of excellent early season form, with 11 athletes in three sports having performed to agreed selection standard on one occasion. This includes marathon runners Derek Hawkins, Susan Partridge and Hayley Haining who all finished inside the standard at last Sunday’s London Marathon, completing the first step towards selection. In addition, lawn bowls have already secured their full quota of 10 athlete places following outstanding results at last December’s World Championships.

Speaking at a press conference in Glasgow today (25 April), CGS Chief Executive and Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Jon Doig, explained how the selection policy will operate.

“Competing for Scotland at a Commonwealth Games is a highlight of any athlete’s career and the added opportunity to compete at a home games is a privilege experienced by very few athletes.

“Over the last three Games cycles, Team Scotland has had increasing success, largely as a result of a robust, clear, consistent selection policy and a strong team ethos, backed with excellent high performance support from sportscotland. I can confirm that this approach will continue so that each athlete selected will be assured of the support of their team mates in the knowledge that all have deserved the honour of representing Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“The two aims of the policy are to ensure that Scotland selects a team that performs with distinction in 2014, and has its most successful Games ever in terms of medals won.”

Amongst the key elements of the policy are:

All individual sports on the 2014 programme will be represented by a minimum of three athletes, with the performance target of top eight or top two thirds of the field at recent Commonwealth Games, whichever is the tighter, being used as the benchmark.
All host team sport places will be accepted to ensure Team Scotland representation in each sport in the Games, with the performance target of top eight in the Commonwealth.
Consideration will be given to allow athletes to participate in additional events to those they qualify in, giving an opportunity to be inspired by a ‘Home Games’ environment.
Sport specific selection standards have now been published in conjunction with each sport’s governing body and provide clear targets for athletes to achieve.
Go-Scotland-Web.jpgWith the clear aim for Team Scotland being to have its largest and most successful team ever in Glasgow, and with many of our athletes having experienced first-hand the excitement of a home Olympic Games in London last year, with its venues full of a passionate home crowd, CGS is planning to replicate that national feel good factor here in Scotland.

To highlight the start of the build-up to the Games for Team Scotland, CGS today launched its new public engagement campaign ‘Go Scotland!’ The campaign aims to raise the awareness of the 17 sports in the Games and give greater profile to the athletes aiming for selection to the team. It’s also calling for the whole of Scotland to get behind the team by pledging their support at goscotland.org and through social media channels.

To mark the occasion a special edition set of athlete images are being published, showing prospective Team Scotland athletes in a different and unusual light, as they have never been seen before. Taken at the magnificent Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, the theme of the photographs is about sport meeting culture, which will be reflected in 2014 through the extensive cultural festival that is being organised as part of the Commonwealth Games and which will showcase Glasgow’s international reputation as a cultural as well as sporting centre of excellence.

The group shot shows the full range of sports in the Games and the strength and unity of the team, whilst each of the individual photos links the athlete and their sport to an exhibit or the architecture in Kelvingrove, drawing out the parallels between the two either in terms of the movement involved or key attributes of the sport. They aim to create a talking point and everyone will have their own favourite!

Calling for people to back the campaign, CGS Chairman Michael Cavanagh said: “Today marks the start of the journey to Glasgow 2014 for Scotland’s athletes as they strive to meet the agreed selection standards for Team Scotland and we are greatly encouraged by the performances so far.

“The athletes greatly value the support of their family and friends, but to know that they have the additional backing from the Scottish public as a whole, would mean a lot to them, just as it did to Team GB in London last year. This is why we have launched this campaign today to encourage everyone across the length and breadth of the country to actively support us in our quest for success in Glasgow and share our journey to the Games.”

Sport Minister Shona Robison said: “This is an exciting time for Team Scotland and all Scottish athletes who have been in training for the Games for years – now it’s crunch time. The Team has all the ingredients to succeed next year, with outstanding facilities, high standards of coaching and an extra £1 million Scottish Government funding this year for elite sport. Team Scotland will be the strongest and best prepared team possible and I want to see everyone in Scotland get behind all of our athletes and sign up for the Go Scotland! campaign. Together we can boost Team Scotland to win gold and deliver the best ever Commonwealth Games.”

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “It’s a really exciting time for sport in Scotland and today’s launch of ‘Go Scotland!’ represents another significant milestone on the road to Glasgow.

“The sportscotland institute of sport coaches, experts, and scientists work very closely with Scotland’s high performance athletes and, consequently, they are as well prepared as they ever have been going into a Commonwealth Games. All of Scotland will be fully behind our athletes, and it will be an incredible experience for them to compete in front of a raucous home crowd.”

David Grevemberg, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014, said: “The passion and enthusiasm of home support for Team Scotland will be a defining element of a successful Commonwealth Games for Glasgow and Scotland.

“This is a real opportunity for people in communities across Scotland to start connecting with a new generation of home-grown sporting heroes and heroines and share the journey with them towards success at our home Games.”

Athletes who took part in the Go Scotland campaign talk about their hopes and aspirations for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. They highlight why it means so much to them to represent Team Scotland and why your support is key to their success.