In conjunction with the International Rugby Board, the organising committee for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games has announced the pool draws for the Rugby 7s competition, which will take place over two days with late afternoon/evening sessions on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 of September.
Scotland has been drawn in Pool A against some tough opposition. The Scots will face Australia, Canada and Youth Games hosts the Isle of Man in the group matches at the Bowl Stadium.
Speaking about the draw, Youth Team Scotland’s Rugby 7s Team Manager John Gillies said: “We’re delighted with the pool draw, which will give us some really exciting and challenging opening games. To play the Australians and the Canadians at any time will be tough, and to face the Isle of Man in front of their home crowd will be fantastic.
“I’m confident in the squad of players we have available, and I know we’ll give a good account of ourselves during the competition. The main thing for me is that the boys enjoy and learn something from the competition which will serve them well in the future.”
Pool B is also strong; with South Africa, England, Sri Lanka and Trinidad & Tobago battling it out for a place in the medal matches.
The pool matches will be completed on Saturday with the positions determining the quarter final line-up on Sunday. The quarters will be followed by the semi finals and finals to decide the overall placings.
Scotland’s squad for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games was announced last week with 12 players selected. The players are: Adam Ashe, Chris Auld, Will Bordill, Chris Dean, James Farndale, Robbie Fergusson, Alex Galashan, Neil Herron, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Damien Hoyland, Shaun MacDonald and Scott Steele.
With the Commonwealth Youth Games just over a month away, Scotland sprinter Tom Holligan has already tasted medal success at a multi-sport Games, coming home with a gold and a silver medal from the 2011 European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey. Tom, who won the 200m with a personal best time of 21.46 and helped the men’s 4x100m relay team to the silver medal, says he also learned a lot from the experience away from the track.
“When I first arrived I found it quite surreal, with so many different countries there and even within my own team there were lots of different sports”, he said. “Throughout the whole experience you are learning about other sports and meeting different people. It was a fantastic experience of an international multi-sport competition which will hopefully serve me well in the Isle of Man.”
Tom’s outstanding achievements in Turkey have seen him named Commonwealth Games Scotland Athlete of the Month for July along with swimmer Craig Benson. Both athletes will receive £250 towards their training and competition costs.
Congratulating the July winners, Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said: “Following on from the announcement of our full team for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games I am delighted to also reveal our latest Athlete of the Month winners. You can see from the achievements of Craig and Tom that we have selected athletes of the highest standard, and I would like to with them both the very best for the Games.”
Edinburgh based Tom also played football for eight years with his local boys club Salvesen, but the time came for him to make a decision about where to focus his attention. “I came to a point where I had to choose, and I think I’m better on the athletics track”, he said.
Despite his recent medal successes Tom is staying focused on the task in hand, with his continued development given top priority. “As long as I run a personal best or run as fast I can I’ll be happy” says Tom. “I can imagine that the competition at the Commonwealth Youth Games will be even harder than the Olympic Festival so I don’t want to set medal targets. I just want to perform well and hopefully make the final.”
Tom is one of nine athletes selected to represent Youth Team Scotland in athletics at the 2011 Isle of Man Commonwealth Youth Games.
sportscotland institute of sport today (Wednesday 17 August) joined Netball Scotland to announce women’s netball as the latest sport to benefit from sportscotland’s Gold4Glasgow (G4G) talent programme, designed to identify more Scottish athletes with the potential to compete on the world stage.
Today’s announcement is targeted at women over the age of 16 and at least 5”10 (178cm) tall who believe they have what it takes to succeed in the demanding and dynamic sport of netball.
Netball now becomes the sixth and final beneficiary of the (G4G) initiative that since 2009 has given individuals from all walks of life the chance for their hidden talents to be discovered in the likes of judo and track cycling. Successful applicants, with the right capability and aptitude may even compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Tony Stanger, Talent Manager at sportscotland institute of sport, explained: “I would encourage anyone who is interested to really go for it. We have learned a lot since we started our first Gold4Glasgow project and we are more convinced than ever that this approach works for athletes who are determined and believe they can succeed at elite level in sport.
“By helping to provide an opportunity for determined and committed people to represent Scotland at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, we are expanding participation in high level sports. The partnership between the sportscotland institute of sport and Netball Scotland will provide the expertise you need to help you get there but we need people who have the determination to do what it takes.
“One thing is for sure, you won’t get there if you don’t apply! We would encourage anyone to get in touch via the website www.gold4glasgow.com if they think they have what it takes!”
Denise Holland, National Coach at Netball Scotland, added: “We have created an elite training environment that will challenge athletes. The most important attribute is a positive attitude and a passion to be part of the Glasgow 2014 sporting challenge, I am proud of what netball has achieved and excited that this G4G project could elevate the Scottish Thistles to compete successfully on the International arena.”
The Gold4Glasgow Netball assessment event will take place on 2 October 2011 at a venue which is yet to be confirmed. Prior to this, all applicants will be sent an information pack with details of the project and a home testing pack. Those who are shortlisted will then be invited to the assessment day at which they will undergo interviews and a range of demanding physical and psychological tests.
Subsequently, successful applicants will continue to undergo training and assessments as athletes, in the hope they can fulfil their dreams in international netball competition.
One of the greatest honours for any Commonwealth Games and Youth Games team member is to be selected by fellow athletes to carry the saltire at the Games Opening Ceremony. This year in the Isle of Man will be no exception and following a nomination process by the sports the following three athletes were shortlisted and voted on at the Team Camp. All three athletes have achieved significant success in their chosen sports and also have strong personal qualities making them excellent role models.
Tom Holligan – Athletics
Tom represented Team GB at the 2011 European Youth Olympic Festival winning gold in the 200m in a new personal best time and helping the men’s 4x100m relay team to win the silver medal.
Grant Ferguson – Cycling
2011 European Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships 2nd and European Road Race Championships 12th. Selected to represent GB at the 2011 Mountain Bike Cross Country World Championships in September.
Craig Benson – Swimming
2011 European Junior Swimming Championships, 100m breaststroke, silver. 2011 ASA Youth Champion for 100m and 200m breaststroke. British & Scottish record holder for U17. Selected to represent GB at the World Junior Championships in August.
All will be revealed on 8 September when Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport will announce the winner.
That evening, the selected athlete will follow in the footsteps of Louise Carroll (Hockey), Gemma Nicol (Athletics) and Lisa Glover (Athletics) who carried the flag at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Badminton ace Imogen Bankier celebrated becoming the first ever Scot to win a silver medal at the world championships in London last weekend.
Imogen (23), from Milngavie, who competed for Team Scotland in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010 and the 2004 Youth Games, competed in the mixed doubles at the Wembley Arena with English partner Chris Adcock (22) from Warrington.
The pair, who have only played together for 11 months, had an incredible journey to Sunday’s final toppling the 15th, eighth, fourth and second seeds on the way, where they lost to the top seeded Chinese pair of Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei 21-15 21-7.
Reaching the final will guarantee them a significant ranking boost from their No. 18 spot when the new list comes out later this week as they close in on the other British pairing ranked No. 8, Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork, in the year-long Olympic qualifying race.
Glasgow’s Bankier said: “They stepped up their game and are very experienced, winning many titles. On the day they were better than us.
“But to play in Wembley and have this many games is really good for our confidence, especially when we look back and reflect.
“The atmosphere was electric. Hopefully all the GB players will up their training and it will be a good Olympic year. We hope to go one better next year. It’s a silver medal gained and a stepping stone to next year.”
At the CGF General Assembly in St Kitts in November, Scotland’s Louise Martin is the sole nomination for the position of Honorary Secretary and is set to serve her fourth term. CGS Chairman Michael Cavanagh is standing for the position of European representative on the Sports Committee against Don Parker (England) and Joseph Cassar (Malta).
The end of an era has been marked with the closing of nominations for the Commonweatlh Games Federation Executive Board, with current President, the Hon Michael Fennell OJ, CD, not seeking re-election.
HRH Prince Tunku Imran is the sole nominee for the top job, having served 11 years on the Board as Vice President.
Fennell, 76, who has overseen successful Games in Kuala Lumpur (1998), Manchester (2002), Melbourne (2006) and Delhi (2010), is retiring after 17 years as President.
Imran, aged 63, is a former Malaysian squash champion and is the President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Vice President of the CGF and Chairman of the CGF’s Sports Committee. He has been an IOC member since 2006, having lead the Malaysian team to the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games as its chef de mission.
He was held a number of positions in world sport, including being President of the World Squash Federation from 1989 to 1996 and he was an Executive Board Member of the International Cricket Council from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2001 to 2008.
Professionally, Imran is a barrister, company chairman and director.
Elections for the CGF Executive will take place in St Kitts on November 11th, the same time that the CGF’s 71 member nations will decide whether the Gold Coast or Hambantota will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Nominations for positions on the Board are:
President
HRH Tunku Imran (Malaysia)
Vice President (2 required)
Ian Emmerson OBE (England)
Dr. Kipchoge Keino (Kenya)
Bruce Robertson (Canada)
Gideon Sam (South Africa)
Honorary Secretary
Louise Martin (Scotland)
Honorary Treasurer
Austin L. Sealy (Barbados)
Honorary Legal Adviser
Sharad Rao (Kenya)
Honorary Medical Adviser
Tan Sri Dr. M. Jegathesan (Malaysia)
Athletes’ Representative
Suzanne Weckend-Dill (Canada)
Nicholas Spence Lane (New Zealand)
Regional Vice Presidents
Africa:
Abdoulie M. Touray (The Gambia)
Americas:
Kalam Azad Juman-Yassin (Guyana)
Asia:
Hemasiri Fernando (Sri Lanka)
Caribbean:
Donald Anderson (Jamaica)
Fortuna Belrose (Saint Lucia)
Chet Greene (Antigua & Barbuda)
Europe:
Joseph Cassar (Malta)
Christopher Jenkins (Wales)
Oceania:
Siosifa Takitoa Taumoepeau (Tonga)
Tapasu Leung Wai (Samoa)
Edinburgh swimmer Craig Benson (17) has had a fantastic year to date, which includes an outstanding silver medal at July’s European Junior Championships held in Belgrade. He also set a new British Age Group under-17 record in Serbia with his time of 1:02.17 for the 100m breaststroke.
“Winning the silver medal at the European juniors was an amazing experience”, says Benson, who has also qualified for the 2011 FINA World Junior Championships. “I’m competing at the World Junior Championships next week and I really want to get another medal there.”
Craig’s achievements in Belgrade have seen him named Commonwealth Games Scotland Athlete of the Month for July along with sprinter Tom Holligan. Both athletes will receive £250 towards their training and competition costs.
Congratulating the July winners, Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said: “Following on from the announcement of our full team for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games I am delighted to also reveal our latest Athlete of the Month winners. You can see from the achievements of Craig and Tom that we have selected athletes of the highest standard, and I would like to with them both the very best for the Games.”
It’s been a record breaking year for Livingston based Benson who smashed the 16 year-old British Age Group record in the 100m breaststroke at the British Championships in March. He then went on to beat it again at the Scottish Age Group Championships in April.
His times give him cause for optimism ahead of the Commonwealth Youth Games in September, but Craig knows that the competition will be fierce. “I know all of the other GB guys, and I’m the fastest at the moment”, he said. “However I don’t know a lot about the Australians, Canadians or the South Africans so it’s hard to say how it will go. I’d certainly love to win a medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games.”
Although he has been performing well in junior competition, Craig has his sights firmly set on the big prizes on offer in London and Glasgow. “One of my main goals is to make the Olympic Games next year, which I have an outside chance of doing”, says Craig. “After that I’m obviously going to be focused on Glasgow 2014 and winning medals there.”
Craig is one of 10 swimmers selected to represent Youth Team Scotland at the 2011 Isle of Man Commonwealth Youth Games.
Against the imposing backdrop of the Wallace Monument in Stirling, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) today announced the 50 athletes selected to represent Youth Team Scotland at the fourth Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man 7-12 September 2011.
The concept created by Scotland in 2000, and designed as an effective vehicle for developing young athletes and giving them an early experience of an international multi-sport environment, the Commonwealth Youth Games has a great track record of uncovering future champions at senior level, and Scotland is no exception. To date 47 Scottish athletes from a total of 200 have progressed from the youth to the senior Commonwealth Games Team, with 11 going on to win a total of 18 medals for Scotland. Amongst the Scots to win medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, who came through the Youth Games include swimmers Hannah Miley and Robbie Renwick, shooters Jenifer McIntosh and Kay Copland, boxer Josh Taylor and weightlifter Peter Kirkbride.
It is anticipated that this positive trend will continue and a significant number of the 50 athletes who compete and win medals in the Isle of Man will go on to compete with distinction for Scotland at Glasgow 2014 and beyond.
Isle of Man 2011 is the first time the Youth Games have been held in one of the smaller Commonwealth nations, in line with the Commonwealth Games Federation’s policy to target countries unlikely to be able to host the senior Games. With a maximum of 1000 athlete places available and 69 of the 71 Commonwealth countries expected to take part, each country was allocated a fixed number of places and qualification standards were set accordingly in conjunction with each of the sports’ governing bodies.
The athletes, aged between 13-18 years, will compete for Scotland in all seven sports on the programme, with many entering multiple events: Athletics (9), Badminton (4), Boxing (5), Cycling (4), Gymnastics (6), Rugby 7s (12), Swimming (10).
Congratulating the team, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of CGS said: “I am confident that we have selected an outstanding team to compete in the Isle of Man, and competition for the limited number of places has been fierce.
“Whilst winning medals is important, the major benefit of the Commonwealth Youth Games is the opportunity it gives to expose young athletes to this level of international competition in a multi-sport environment. It is also the first time that athletes experience being part of Team Scotland and the strong team ethos we engender.
“I am sure we will see a number of these new faces emerge again in Glasgow in 2014 when the next Commonwealth Games are held in Scotland. I wish them every success as they embark on their Commonwealth Games journey and I look forward to cheering them on.”
Amongst the team members unveiled today are gymnast Shannon Archer who at just 13 years of age is the youngest team member; badminton player Kirsty Gilmour who is the only athlete who has already attended a Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010; and two members of the newly formed full-time Scotland Rugby 7s squad Adam Ashe and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne. A number of athletes are also fresh from success representing Great Britain at European and World junior and youth events including in athletics Tom Holligan, Nick Percy, Zoey Clark and Kimberley Reed, swimmers Craig Benson, Gareth Mills, Emily Jones and Mark Szaranek and cyclist Grant Ferguson, whilst the boxers have taken on the best of British at the GB Youth Amateur Championships and acquitted themselves well with lightweight, Charlie Flynn winning gold.
Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport also extended her best wishes to the team saying: “I would like to congratulate all the athletes on their selection for Youth Team Scotland and wish them every success in the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in The Isle of Man.
“With the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow less than three years away, the Commonwealth Youth Games is an exciting concept and provides the ideal platform for young athletes to develop and gain competition experience for future events. Good luck to all the team and I look forward to being there personally to cheer them on.”
Also at the announcement, Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland said: “On behalf of sportscotland I would like to congratulate each of the athletes selected to represent Youth Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man. It is a fantastic achievement and is testament to all the dedication and hard work put in by the athletes, their families and their coaches and we wish them all the very best for the Games.
“The Commonwealth Games is particularly significant for Scotland, as it is the only major Games where we compete as a nation in our own right, and the Youth Games concept is also close to my own heart having been developed here in Scotland and adopted internationally as a positive opportunity for developing young talent.”
Recalling her experience of the Commonwealth Youth Games, Commonwealth gold medallist and World silver medallist at 400m individual medley, swimmer Hannah Miley added: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Commonwealth Youth Games at Bendigo in 2004. It is such a great opportunity when you are a young athlete to be part of a huge competition and also to interact with athletes from all over the world. I am always especially proud to stand up representing Scotland and no more so than in Delhi last year. I wish all Youth Team Scotland athletes the best of luck next month in the Isle of Man.”
Youth Team Scotland, led by General Team Manager Vicky Strange and a coaching and support team of 24 staff, will leave for the Games on Tuesday 6 September 2011. The team will have a training day on 7 September followed by the Opening Ceremony on 8 September. This will be followed by three days of hotly contested competition 9-11 September. The Youth Games will also feature a cultural programme on the 12 September to enable athletes to mix and learn about other cultures, before an informal Closing Ceremony.
Click here to view interviews from the Team announcement on the BBC Scotland website:
CGS Chairman, Michael Cavanagh
SELECTED TEAM LIST
Sport/ Athlete Lives Age at Games
Athletics (9)
Holligan, Tom – Edinburgh, EH13 – 17yrs
McCall, John – Glasgow G66 – 16yrs
Percy, Nicholas – Isle of Wight – 16yrs
Brown, Emma – East Kilbride, G74 – 17yrs
Clark, Zoey – Aberdeen, AB10 – 16yrs
Finlayson, Bethanie – Dunfermline, KY12 – 17yrs
Lambert, Chloe – Glasgow, G33 – 17yrs
Milne, Yasmin – Aberdeen, AB15 – 17yrs
Reed, Kimberley – Edinburgh, EH7 – 16yrs
Badminton (4)
Carder, Matthew – Edinburgh, EH30 – 18yrs
Neil, Josh – Prestwick, KA9 – 16yrs
Gilmour, Kirsty – Bothwell, G71 – 17yrs
Pringle, Caitlin – Giffnock, G46 – 17yrs
Boxing (5)
Flynn, Charlie – Motherwell, ML15 – 17yrs
McKeown, Mark – Coatbridge, ML5 – 17yrs
Pagan, Rhys – Sanquhar, DG4 – 18yrs
Quigley, Grant – Port Glasgow, PA14 – 17yrs
Smith, Kieran – Greenrigg, ML7 – 18yrs
Cycling (4)
Barrett, Jack – Stirling, FK16 – 18yrs
Ferguson, Grant – Peebles, EH45 – 17yrs
Johnstone, Taylor – London – 18yrs
McCluskey, Stuart – Hamilton ML10 – 17yrs
Gymnastics (6)
Carpenter, Jamie – Newcastle – 14yrs
Davie, Liam – Cambroe, ML5 – 18yrs
Ross, Douglas – Johnstone, PA5 – 17yrs
Archer, Shannon – Edinburgh, EH52 – 13yrs
Kennedy, Cara – Paisley, PA2 – 13yrs
Smith, Carly – Glasgow,GA15 – 14yrs
Rugby (12)
Ashe, Adam – Alva, FK12 – 18yrs
Auld, Chris – Dumfries, DG2 – 18yrs
Bordill, Will – Sandbach, Cheshire – 18yrs
Dean, Chris – North Berwick, EH39 – 17yrs
Farndale, James, Penicuik, EH26 – 17yrs
Fergusson, Robbie – Ayr, KA6 – 18yrs
Glashan, Alex – Broxburn, EH52 – 17yrs
Herron, Neil – Glasgow, G13 – 17yrs
Hidalgo-Clyne, Sam – Edinburgh, EH4 – 18yrs
Hoyland, Damien – Edinburgh, EH8 – 17yrs
MacDonald, Shaun – Dunblane, FK15 – 17yrs
Steele, Scott – Dumfries, DG2 – 18yrs
Swimming (10)
Benson, Craig – Livingston, EH54 – 17yrs
Booth, Josh – Derby – 15yrs
Mills, Gareth – Scarborough – 18yrs
Stirling, Alasdair – Glasgow,G73 – 18yrs
Szaranek, Mark – Glenrothes KY7 – 16yrs
Donnelly, Fiona – Belper, Derbyshire – 16yrs
Jones, Emily – Inverurie, AB51 – 16yrs
McKenzie, Charlotte – Larbert, FK5 – 15yrs
McKinley, Kirstin – Bearsden, G61 – 16yrs
Sharples, Rachel – Musselburgh, EH21 -14yrs
Support Staff (10)
General Team Manager – Vicky Strange – Stirling FK7
Deputy General Team Manager – Gail Niven – Stirling FK7
Deputy General Team Manager – Elinor Middlemiss – Edinburgh EH4
Office Manager – Catherine Goodfellow – Edinburgh EH7
Media Officer – Stuart Mackenzie – Glasgow G40
Head of Medical Services / Head Doctor – Dr David Pugh – Blanfield G63
Team Doctor – Dr Stephen Boyce – East Kilbride G74
Head Physiotherapist – Lesley Dawson – Alva FK12
Team Physiotherapist – Linda Hardy – Glasgow G12
Team Physiotherapist – Kirstin Carroll – Dundee DD2
Sport Team Leaders & Coaches (14)
Athletics – Darren Ritchie – Bo’ness EH51
Athletics – Mark Pollard – Inverclyde PA15
Badminton – Julie Hogg – Dunfermline KY12
Badminton – John Quinn – Milton Keynes
Boxing – Tony Kerr – Aberdeen AB25
Boxing – Mike Keane – Kirkcaldy KY1
Cycling – Graeme Herd – Barrhead, G78
Cycling – Mark McKay – Culross KY12
Gymnastics – Rod Smith – Stirling FK9
Gymnastics – Marius Gherman – Glasagow G77
Rugby 7s – John Gillies – Renfrew PA4
Rugby 7s – Mark Mckenzie – Falkirk FK5
Swimming – Laurel Bailey – Ediburgh, EH4
Swimming – Gary Paterson – Aberdeen AB32
Download the attached pdf file for a full list of events entered.
Download: Download
Work to lay the greens at the Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre, which will host the Lawn Bowls competition at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, is nearing completion and today the legendary Willie Wood MBE (73) and 2014 Games hopeful, Sarah Ewing, had the privilege of being the first bowlers on the greens.
The Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre is located on the site of the current bowling greens on either side of Kelvin Way in the West End of Glasgow, immediately adjacent to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and close to the University of Glasgow.
Five bowling greens have been upgraded to international standard for use during the Games. Works have included the complete reconstruction of greens and ditches, incorporating new drainage and automated irrigation scheme, together with the resurfacing of the footpath network throughout the venue.
The final stage has seen the laying of the turf on to the newly constructed greens, which will be playable from the summer of 2012 onwards. Once complete, the new bowling centre will among the finest in Scotland.
There will be temporary seating for around 2,500 spectators for the Lawn Bowls competitions during the Games and a project to deliver a new pavilion to meet the legacy requirements of club members and casual users following the Games is currently being developed by Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life.
Willie Wood has had an extraordinarily long and successful international career in lawn bowls, representing Scotland for 45 years from 1966. Having competed in eight Commonwealth Games, Willie is the most capped Scottish Commonwealth Games athlete of all time and has won four Commonwealth Games medals, including two gold medals. Last month he retired from outdoor international competition.
Commenting on the new greens Willie said: “It is a great honour to be asked to deliver the first bowl on the greens that will be used for Glasgow 2014 because the Commonwealth Games holds a very special place in my heart. Some of my greatest achievements and happiest memories are associated with playing for my country.
“The turf looks a brilliant texture. They are obviously not in playing condition yet but they look like they will be really good by the time we get round to 2014. I won’t be playing then but I will certainly be here watching.”
Sarah Ewing is a British Junior Pairs winner and British Isles Junior Singles winner and went to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year as part of the Achieve 2014 programme. Last week she competed for the final time as a junior in the Ladies Junior Internationals in Edinburgh and will have a trial later this summer for the ladies senior squad. Sarah has her sights firmly set on competing for Team Scotland in 2014 at this impressive new venue.
The bowlers were joined by representatives of The Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee.
Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said: “The Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre will provide some of the most memorable images from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, with Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the University of Glasgow in the background. Lawn bowls is of course a favourite sport of many people in Glasgow and Scotland, and I am delighted by the progress here as we mark another key step towards the Games and a great sporting facility before and after 2014.”
Michael Cavanagh, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “This is a truly magnificent facility for the bowls competition set against such an iconic backdrop. I am sure it will inspire our bowlers to play to their very best, cheered on by the knowledgeable home crowd. Whilst I am disappointed that Willie Wood won’t be playing for Team Scotland again in 2014, I am delighted that he is the first bowler to play on the new greens here at Kelvingrove, which is a fitting tribute to the years of commitment to his sport and to Commonwealth Games.”
The Kelvingrove Bowls Centre project is expected to be complete by summer 2012.