An article in today’s Herald by Kevin Ferrie made reference to allegations from an unnamed source, claiming that Scottish athletes were not sent to Delhi as a result of seats on the plane being taken up by Board members’ partners. These allegations are patently untrue and need to be corrected.
Commonwealth Games Scotland has a clear policy for athletes’ selection for the Commonwealth Games. The criteria are based on athletes meeting the agreed selection standards set in conjunction with each sport, which also takes into account the maximum number of entries available per event. The overall team size is therefore determined purely on these grounds. Since this general selection policy was introduced for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, there has never been a situation where an athlete who has met the required standard has been denied a place on the team through either a lack of funding or places being taken up by officials.
Any Board members attending the Games (in non-team staff roles) are allocated clear individual roles and responsibilities working on behalf of the CGS, which are performed in a voluntary capacity. These activities include specialist support services, representation at Commonwealth Games Federation meetings, working with governing bodies, sponsors and other partners whilst also contributing to operational support programmes such as Scotland House and the Achieve 2014 programme, all of which take administrative loads off the Games team staff. They are also reserve team staff in the event of emergencies. Furthermore in Delhi, with Scotland being the next Games hosts there were additional activities linking with our other 2014 Games partners to positively showcase the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Where Board members have been accompanied by their partner at the Games, they are also required to perform support roles in a voluntary capacity. In Delhi this equated to economy flight costs for three additional people, whilst three Board members had Team staff roles with costs met through the travel grant from the Delhi 2010 Organising Committee. All costs involved are met by CGS and does not involve funding from the public purse, which is provided solely for the core running costs of the organisation and does not contribute to the cost of the team’s participation at the Games themselves.
Finally with regard to the selection of team officials this is done through an open recruitment process in conjunction with each of the sport governing bodies and for technical staff is based on having the required skills and experience as measured against the job description.
Commonwealth Games Scotland has strong governance procedures in place and is committed to operating in a professional, open and transparent manner at all times.
It was announced today that the BBC has been appointed as the domestic broadcast rights holder for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, ensuring full network coverage across the UK and on World Service.
The BBC investment in Glasgow 2014 reflects the importance of the Games to the Home nations and offers the Organising Committee an unparalleled platform for the promotion of the Games to the widest possible UK audience.
The BBC Network offers coverage of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games through the BBC One and BBC Two television networks, news coverage across the BBC Radio and TV networks (including Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra), red button interactive and/or IPTV services, the BBC Sport website and international promotion of the Games through BBC World News and the BBC World Service.
In addition, it is expected that the BBC’s Nations and Regions sport and news teams for television, radio and online will generate considerable additional interest by focusing on the performance of local competitors in those parts of the British Isles which compete at the Games as separate teams.
The BBC has a long association with the Commonwealth Games which dates back to the first British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954, and the organisation will bring unrivalled experience of covering major multi-sport Games.
Glasgow 2014 anticipates significant benefits from this experience in relation to shaping the host broadcast production of the Games, to ensure the highest quality output is achieved.
Glasgow 2014 Chairman, Lord Smith of Kelvin said: “I am delighted that the BBC has taken up the domestic rights for the Commonwealth Games and I believe this deal represents a huge vote of confidence in Glasgow 2014 as well as the Commonwealth Games movement in general. We anticipate some of the world’s highest profile athletes will compete at our Games, fresh from their successes at London 2012.
“The added spice will be seeing the stars of Team GB in their own national colours in Glasgow, just two years later. The BBC’s reach will help us to generate a huge level of excitement and anticipation in the lead up to the biggest event Scotland will ever have hosted.”
Ken MacQuarrie, Director of BBC Scotland, added: “BBC Scotland will have a special role at the heart of our coverage in giving the Games extensive exposure in Scotland across our dedicated TV, radio and online services – all of which will make the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games a truly momentous occasion in Scotland.”
Welcoming the news Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “This is fabulous news for Glasgow 2014 and in particular our athletes and their supporters. Team Scotland has enjoyed first class support of BBC Scotland over the last three Games and this appointment for 2014 will ensure that this not only continues, but is taken to a whole new level.
“We look forward to working with the BBC to promote Scotland’s Commonwealth Games stars, past, present and future and to rally the support of the Scottish public to maximise home advantage and generate huge interest in Team Scotland and the Games as a whole.”
Jak Scott, a member of Team Scotland’ silver medal winning 4x200m freestyle relay team in Delhi joined in the celebrations today, as construction work got underway to upgrade the Tollcross Aquatics Centre in Glasgow which will play host to the 2014 aquatics events in just over three years time.
Jak was joined by Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport; David Grevemberg, Acting Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014 and Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland.
This work will result in the creation of a new six-lane 50 metre warm-up pool to add to the existing 10-lane 50 metre competition pool at Tollcross, to provide a dedicated venue for swimming events at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games; the creation of a new community facility to replace the fire-damaged Shettleston Burgh Halls; and the refurbishment of the existing Tollcross Leisure Centre.
As part of the programme, 1,000 permanent seats will be added to the 1,000 already existing, with a further 3,000 temporary seats in place during the Games.
Michael Cavanagh, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “Tollcross has seen some exciting international swimming action over the years, but nothing that will compare with the atmosphere when the greatest swimmers in the Commonwealth enter the water. Team Scotland swimmers have been extremely successful at the last two Commonwealth Games and I know how much they will enjoy and benefit from the support of a fabulous home crowd cheering them on to victory. It is great to see the re-development of the pool now underway and the action coming one step closer.”
Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said: “The Tollcross Aquatics Centre project will bring a world-class swimming facility both for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the decades thereafter, and a new community facility. Such a venue can only increase the appeal of Tollcross for swimmers of all abilities, attract future competitions and deliver even more success for the City of Glasgow Swim Team.”
Excited at the prospect of being part of Team Scotland again for a home Games Jak Scott added: “It great to see that work on the pool is now underway, which brings us one step closer to Glasgow 2014 and competing in front of a huge Scottish crowd. Training is going really well and off the back of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year I have managed to qualify for the World Championships in Shanghai next month which is my first international GB cap. This is a great step forward for me towards London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.
“The momentum is really starting to build, training has been upped and everyone is really focused on reaching their goals. Days like today make everything more real, and makes me even more determined to be successful here in Glasgow in 2014.
“I have seen the plans for the pool and it will be a world class facility and for Glasgow to have such a great venue will be an enormous help for Scottish Swimming for years to come.
“It gives me goose bumps just thinking about competing here in front of a home crowd. I think back to Delhi and looking up at my family and celebrating with other members of the Scottish team and seeing just how passionate everyone was about Commonwealth Games, only this time the pool is going to be full of people supporting us every step of the way. It is going to absolutely buzzing in here which is great!”
Jak is competing at the Scottish National Championships at Tollcross this week, before flying out to a training camp in Osaka, Japan on 12 July to make his final preparations for the World Championships in Shangahia as part of the British team, which includes six other Scots.
Seven Scottish swimmers, five of whom won medals at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year, have been selected to represent Great Britain at the World Championships in Shanghai, China 16-31 July 2011.
Their selection follows some outstanding performances at the British National Championships in Sheffield last week, which was the last chance to secure a seat on the plane to Shanghai. Amongst the highlights saw a Scottish 1, 2, 3 in both the men’s 200m and 400m freestyle finals.
Robbie Renwick, Scotland’s first gold medallist of the Delhi Games, was distraught when he failed to qualify for the World Championships at the first round of trials in Manchester in March. But there was double delight for the Commonwealth Games champion when he collected gold in both the 400m and 200m freestyle (1:47.46). As in the 400m, all three podium places went to Scots. David Carry (1:49.48) was second again and Jak Scott, who trains at the ITC Centre in Stirling, finished third in 1:49.58. Jak will make his GB senior debut when all three Scots team up in the 4 x 200m relay team in Shanghai.
It was also double gold for Kris Gilchrist in the 100m and 200m breaststroke and he will join fellow Scot, Michael Jamieson who had booked his slot in the breaststroke events back in March. Kris who changed club and moved to the ITC in Bath after his disappointment in Delhi, posted 1:00.99 in the 100m, his fastest time for two and a half years and in the 200m he kept up his good form to swim the fifth fastest time in the world this year 2:10.18.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Hannah Miley, who had also qualified for the World Championships in her favoured two medley events back in March, claimed bronze in the 200m breaststroke and finished fourth in the 200m freestyle in a sub two minute time. She finished the week off with a bronze in the 800m freestyle showing the depth and diversity of her talent.
In the 100m freestyle, Caitlin McClatchey collected the bronze medal and the added bonus of securing a World Championship berth in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay. She went on to take silver in the 200m freestyle eventually succumbing to an in-form Joanne Jackson.
Commonwealth Games relay medallist Lewis Smith also had a great week, coming third in the 400m freestyle and then winning the 400m individual medley and taking silver in the 200IM, but sadly just missed out on the qualifying times for the Worlds.
World Championship selected athletes are:
Robbie Renwick
David Carry
Jak Scott
Michael Jamieson
Kris Gilchrist
Hannah Miley
Caitlin McClatchey
The Scots are also making waves on the junior international scene.
Commonwealth Games 3m springboard diving finalist Grace Reid has been selected for the European Junior Diving Championships in Belgrade 29 June – 3 July, whilst 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games hopefuls Craig Benson and Emily Jones have been selected for the World Junior Championships in Lima, Peru.
Good luck to all our international representatives this summer in the pool!
Scottish Commonwealth Youth Games representative from 2008, Eilish McColgan made her debut in a GB senior vest at the European Team Championships in Stockholm last weekend.
Selected as a travelling reserve to cover a number of events, the 20 year old was called up at the last minute for the 3000m Steeplechase. She ran a personal best time of 9:55.13 in an event which she has only competed in twice before and finished ninth, contributing vital points to the GB team total.
Speaking with the BBC McColgan said: “It was my first time representing GB at any level and it’s just proved to me that this is what I want to do. This race was really a stepping stone for London 2012 and for Glasgow 2014 in my home country!”
Lee McConnell was also in good form in Stockholm, boosting her Olympic hopes by helping Great Britain into second place in the 4x400m relay in a time of 50.6 seconds.
Elsewhere, Scotland’s two throwers Andy Frost and James Campbell had a disappointing meet. Frost was well off the mark in the hammer with his throw of 61.53m to take 11th place. Campbell, on his GB debut, was ninth in the javelin after throwing just 68.03m.
Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) announced today that Elinor Middlemiss, double Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in badminton, has been appointed as the organisation’s new Games Team Operations Manger. This appointment follows the departure of Vicky Strange, who joined the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee as Head of Sport Competition at the beginning of June.
Elinor brings a wealth of relevant experience to the role, as a former elite athlete, coach and now as an administrator, along with a great passion for the Games. She is a five times Scottish Commonwealth Games representative in Badminton (1986-2002), winning bronze medals in the women’s doubles in 1998 and in the team event in 2002. She also played in eight Uber Cups, eight European Team Championships and six World Championships and has the most international caps (136) and national titles (22) of any Scottish female badminton player. She is an advanced coach at equivalent of UKCC level 2 and has coached at World University Games and World University Championship level.
Elinor is currently working for sportscotland as Programme and Services Manager with the East of Scotland Institute of Sport, working with a number of potential Commonwealth Games athletes and their coaches and key support partners. She also brings experience as a customer services manager with a large financial institution dealing with operational/ project management and people management.
Elinor was in Delhi as one of the mentors on the Achieve 2014 programme and was appointed earlier this year as an Assistant General Team Manager for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games team.
Welcoming the appointment, Jon Doig CGS Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to have attracted someone of Elinor’s calibre and experience to this key role at Commonwealth Games Scotland. With Glasgow 2014 just over three years away, Elinor’s experience and understanding of the Scottish sporting landscape and the unique and important nature of the Commonwealth Games will be of huge benefit and enable her to hit the ground running. We look forward to welcoming her to the team.”
As Games Team Operations Manager, Elinor will support the Chief Executive and lead on the technical planning and preparation of Team Scotland for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, where she will be the General Team Manager.
Commenting on her new role Elinor Middlemiss said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Commonwealth Games Scotland at such an exciting time for Scottish sport. I was lucky enough to represent Team Scotland at five Commonwealth Games, including the last time it was on home soil in Edinburgh in 1986. Now to be part of the team again, putting plans in place to help our athletes realise their potential in Glasgow in 2014 is a fantastic opportunity and I am really looking forward to the challenge.”
Elinor will take up her new post at the end of July.
Wildcard permitting, Delhi gold medallists in the tennis mixed doubles, Jocelyn Rae and Colin Fleming will be back on court together for only their second ever tournament, when play gets underway at Wimbledon next week.
Their journey started in the sweltering heat of Delhi, where tennis was making its Games debut. Colin and Jocelyn had taken the tournament by storm, beating the hosts and second seeds India and fourth seeds England in the semi-finals, on the way to clinching gold in a nail biting final that had all the Scottish supporters on the edge of their seats.
The unseeded Scottish pair, who had never played together before the Games, completed a truly remarkable fight-back in the final to beat the Australian top seeds Paul Hanley and Anastasia Rodionova 7-6 6-7 6-2. As the clock read one minute to midnight in the RK Khanna stadium, they become the first ever mixed doubles tennis champions in Commonwealth Games competition, their outstanding achievement securing Scotland’s third gold medal of the Games.
2010 started well for Joss in Eliat, Israel in February, where she and Heather Watson defeated world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki and her partner to secure Great Britain’s place in Fed Cup Europe/Africa Group I, before succumbing to a stress fracture in her foot.
Next week it is back to the genteel lawns of SW19, where the 6ft 2in, blonde English-born Scot will attempt to consolidate her growing stature on the UK scene. The 20-year-old and her partner Watson – who took the scalp of No.2 seeded pair Cara Black and defeated Commonwealth Games mixed doubles finalist Anastasia Rodionova at Nottingham last week – have been granted a wild card in the women’s doubles. The plan thereafter is that Rae and Fleming will reprise their Commonwealth Games roles in an all-Scottish mixed doubles team at the All England Club. Rae is looking forward to the reunion in a slightly more salubrious environment, although she wouldn’t have changed her Commonwealth Games experience for the world.
Speaking recently with The Herald she said: “I am really looking forward to getting out there,” Rae said. “Wimbledon is the best tournament in the world and just stepping out there and playing against the best in the world is something I aspire to do on a regular basis.
“Obviously there were loads of bugs in Delhi and they were all in your face and stuff but I loved every second of the experience and winning the gold medal just topped it all off,” she said.
“Colin and I are hoping to play in the mixed doubles, but the way it works that you sign in just a day or two before and the wild cards get allocated after that. So fingers crossed we will get one and the team that performed at the Commonwealth Games can get back together again. The atmosphere will be a bit different, but I am sure it will be the kind of thing me and Colin will really enjoy.”
Scottish cyclist Grant Ferguson (17) has been riding for the best part of a decade, and after some impressive performances in 2011 he looks to be firmly set on the road to success.
Ferguson recently represented Great Britain in the Junior Peace Race in the Czech Republic where he was the top GB rider, finishing 16th overall. This performance in a field of 110 top international riders has resulted in him being named as the Commonwealth Games Scotland Athlete of the Month for May, jointly with hammer thrower Kimberley Reed.
Grant’s first competitive experience of cycling came in the mountain (MTB) discipline, following a move to the borders town of Peebles. “When I moved to Peebles I got involved in a kids club at Glentress. I started off at the age of eight, and I’ve been hooked ever since.” 2010 saw him crowned the Scottish MTB champion along with securing a place on the Olympic Development Programme. Grant now races on the road as well as down the mountain, and is aiming to make the Scotland team for the Isle of Man Commonwealth Youth Games in September.
Like every cyclist in the UK, Grant says Sir Chris Hoy is the rider he admires the most. “Obviously Sir Chris is the man when it comes to cycling, and I take a lot of inspiration from him.” Sir Chris has represented Scotland at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games winning a total of four medals, which is something Grant hopes to replicate one day.
Competing in multiple disciplines, Grant has a busy year ahead of him and he’s relishing the opportunities to develop. “I’m really looking forward to the British Championships on my mountain bike and I’m hoping to get a few top five finishes under my belt on the road”, he says. “I want to learn as much as I can over the next few months, and hopefully save my best form for the Commonwealth Youth Games in September.”
Ferguson already has experience of racing on the Isle of Man which he hopes will be to his advantage, having recently competed in the island’s Junior Tour where he finished 14th. The three day meet featured a time trial along the Douglas promenade, which is being used again in September, when it will undoubtedly be one of the highlights at the Games.
Grant says that “listening and learning” are amongst the key factors leading to his continued progress in cycling and he has some top tips for other young people looking to get involved in the sport. “My advice to anyone starting off in cycling is just to make sure you enjoy it”, he said. “You have to have fun in the sport, and keep setting yourself small goals to improve”.
The selection period for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games is currently open, with Youth Team Scotland athletes set to be announced on 9 August.
Kimberley Reed (16) from Edinburgh, tried her hand at a number of sports before being inspired by former Olympic and Commonwealth athlete Shirley Webb to take up the hammer. “I saw Shirley on Gladiators and she inspired me to try the hammer”, says Reed. “I’d already tried a number of other athletics events, but throwing is where I feel most comfortable.”
Reed waited until she was sure that the hammer was for her before dedicating herself to the sport, which is something she would recommend to other young people keen on getting into athletics. “There are so many events in athletics, I think it’s really important to try as many as you can”, she said. “I tried about seven before I found my niche with the throwing events.”
Kimberley, a member of Edinburgh Athletics Club, recorded a fantastic throw of 53.63m at the first Hammerama of the 2011 season, smashing the Scottish under-17 Age Group record of 52.02m held by 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games athlete, Myra Perkins. Not only that, but the throw meets the qualifying standard for both the 2011 Isle of Man Commonwealth Youth Games in September and the World Youth Championships, to be held in Lille, France in July.
Rewarding this fantastic achievement, Kimberley has been named as the Commonwealth Games Scotland Athlete of the Month for May, jointly with cyclist Grant Ferguson and will receive £250 from Commonwealth Games Scotland towards training and competition costs. Her consistency so far this season has also seen her rise to seventh in the world at under-18 level.
Despite her early success in 2011, Kimberley is taking things one step at a time. “I’m just setting myself little goals to keep improving my distances, but obviously I have some clear targets for the rest of the year”, she says. “I’m really looking forward to competing at the World Youth Championships, and it would be a great honour to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games.”
The selection period for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games is currently open, with Youth Team Scotland athletes set to be announced on 9 August.
Download: Reed’s Success Hammered Home
Chris Baillie, 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist in the 110m hurdles, helped get the construction work up and running on the £150million City Legacy Homes development to be used as the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Village and as a new neighbourhood for the city thereafter.
Chris was particularly pleased to see the project underway, having helped to ‘press the button’ in the demolition of the original 1960s tower blocks back in 2007, during early preparation works on the site.
The new Village development was launched on 8 June by Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, John Scott, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014, representatives of the City Legacy consortium, along with Chris Baillie and school pupils from Quarry Brae Primary and St Michael’s Primary.
The successful development of the 38.5 hectares site in Dalmarnock will be a key component in the delivery of the Games. The Village will provide accommodation and facilities for 6,500 competitors and officials on a site only three miles from Glasgow City Centre and beside the new M74 extension. The Athletes’ Village will be right on the doorstep of the new spectacular NISA and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
The Athletes’ Village is being built by the City Legacy Consortium and after the Games, the Village will become a desirable new residential community – the first stage will include 304 private houses, 300 homes for rent, 100 homes for mid-market rent and a new 120 bed care home for the elderly. The plans for the Athletes’ Village have high design and environmental standards and will ultimately deliver a desirable new residential neighbourhood within Glasgow’s East End.
Attending the launch, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “It is great to see the Athletes’ Village construction get underway. The Village is the heartbeat of every Games, providing that important home from home for all the athletes as they prepare for the performance of their lives. There has been a lot of input so far from our athletes into the Village planning process and we will continue to work closely with the Organising Committee to ensure that when completed, it offers the best possible athlete experience and resulting performances.”
For more information on the City Legacy Homes development, please visit www.citylegacy.co.uk.