The Boxing weigh-in was delayed this morning, after problems with the scales meant that almost all of the athletes were over their respective weight categories. With each section clearly defined by weight, every kilo counts.
Heavyweight, Stephen Simmons said: “The scales were meant to be calibrated but it wasn’t done properly and most people were coming out two or three kilos over. Everyone has been put through for now so we could get the medicals and the draw out of the way.”
The fighters will now be officially weighed ahead of their opening bouts, which would happen anyway under competition rules. Stephen remains positive about his chances and say’s the delay won’t have any effect on his preparations.
“The delay doesn’t bother me. They just need to get it sorted so we can get the competition started. If I box to the best of my ability and stay consistent then I should take gold. I need to follow my head rather than my heart and stay focused.”
The medical exam and draw went ahead as planned with two fighters facing home nations competition. Iain Butcher faces Northern Ireland’s Paddy Barnes, while Aston Brown takes on Welshman Darren Edwards. Competition at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium kicks off on 5 October, with Team Scotland entering the ring for the first time on 6 October.
Team Scotland boxing draw:
49kg – Iain Butcher v Paddy Barnes NIR, 07/10/10
56kg – Joeseph Ham v Luka Sakaria NAM, 09/10/10 (Bye in the first round)
60kg – Josh Taylor v Darren Edwards WAL, 06/10/10
69kg – Aston Brown v Rayton Okwiri KEN, 06/10/10
81kg – Callum Johnson v Krystian Borucki IOM, 09/10/10 (Bye in the first round)
91kg – Stephen Simmons v Masana Manganyi RSA, 09/10/10 (Bye in the first round)
91+kg – Ross Henderson v Alexay Mukhin AUS, 08/10/10
In their blue team-issue polo shirts they could have been mistaken for Delhi 2010 athletes – especially as they sat down for press and TV interviews in Team Scotland’s Delhi base, Scotland House.
But these ten young Scots, although they do have the Commonwealth Games firmly in their minds, are thinking not of the next two weeks, but the next four years, and Glasgow in 2014.
The Achieve 2014 initiative, headed by Scotland’s 2002 judo gold medallist Graeme Randall, will see thirty young athletes, as well as sixteen coaches and ten athlete mentors, attend the Games in Delhi.
The first group of ten, including swimmers, hockey, squash, lawn bowls and table tennis players, are now in Delhi, and pursuing a packed schedule, including visits to the athletes’ village, the above-mentioned press conference, the Opening Ceremony, and from Monday, when the Games get underway, the competition venues for their own and other sports.
“They’re here to understand more about the processes of a multi-sport Games,” explained Randall, “and we hope that experience will help them in 2014 by allowing them to prepare and focus on winning medals.”
This was echoed by Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland. “Someone’s first time at a multi-sport Games can be a daunting experience,” said Cavanagh. “Some athletes rise to the big, multi-sport occasion, while others are overwhemed by it; it can be difficult for someone to go straight into that environment and perform to the best of their ability.
“The idea behind this programme is to give a number of athletes and coaches a chance to experience the Games,” continued Cavanagh, “so the next time they’re here, in 2014, nothing should be new, nothing should be daunting, and they can focus on what they’re really there for – which is to win medals.”
Another factor in 2014 will be the home crowd, and, with this in mind, Randall said that the young athletes have been told to pay special attention in Delhi to the Indian competitors. “When these guys go out and compete in Glasgow it’ll be the most fantastic experience they’ve ever had,” said Randall. “But I think they can learn from watching how the Indian competitors respond to the crowds here, and how they deal with that pressure.”
Unsurprisingly, the first wave of Achieve 2014 athletes appear to be relishing the Delhi experience. On their first day they happened to be in the Athletes’ Village as the Queen’s baton arrived, giving them, said Randall, “their first opportunity to witness a media frenzy – and they did very well. I think they got themselves in front of every camera that was there.”
For Emma Hunter, a 17-year old swimmer, it is the Athletes’ Village that has so far left the biggest impression. “It was really nice, with training facilities and things for the athletes to do. Everyone looked relaxed and happy, and no one looked bored. Seeing it definitely makes me even more determined to compete in 2014.”
As well as seeing their own sports, visits to other sporting venues are also on the agenda. “I’m really looking forward to the swimming finals,” says Callum Main, a 17-year old table tennis player. “I think I can learn a lot, just seeing how they prepare, how they handle their nerves. There’s definitely a lot you can take from other sports into your own sport.”
Michael Bremner, an 18-year old hockey player, believes that, “without this experience I think I’d be at a disadvantage in Glasgow.” As he explains: “The experience we’re having is very similar to the experience you’ll have as an athlete – we’re as close as we could be to the Games without actually competing.”
Naturally Bremner is most looking forward to attending the hockey, in particular the Scottish women’s Monday evening match against the home nation, India. “Hockey and cricket are the national sports here, so it’ll be packed out,” says Bremner. “We probably won’t be heard in the crowd, but we’ll do our best to support them.”
Recalling his own first experience of a multi-sport Games, at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, Randall says: “I was only 20, and it was quite overwhelming. The village was phenomenal, and you had lots of big names. Seeing Muhammad Ali in the international zone – wow! But that’s exactly the kind of thing you can get distracted by, whereas those athletes with experience of the village tend not to be.
“I also competed in the Manchester Commonwealth Games,” Randall continues, “and a few of the kids have asked what it was like. It was as close to a home Games as I got, and the reception we got was incredible. We were really well supported and cheered on – as long as we weren’t competing against an Englishman.
“The multi-sport environment is one thing to be prepared for, and the home Games is another,” adds Randall. “And another thing we’re trying to impress on these young athletes is the importance of being part of a team, and supporting each other.
“Even if you don’t win a medal, you can come home from the Commonwealth Games a success because you’re part of a successful team. I think Achieve 2014 will also help in that team-building process, and in fostering that special Team Scotland spirit.”
Two of Scotland’s athletes have already begun their transformation and have been bobbing and weaving around the Athletes’ Village in saltire Morph suits. The two muscular heroes are here to win gold for Scotland and hope to inspire their fellow athletes on to Commonwealth success.
Scotland’s superheroes are wearing outfits kindly supplied by www.morphsuits.com. The company is owned by Gregor Lawson; grandson of Bill McLaren and brother to Rory who was on the 2006 Commonwealth Games team.
Who are Scotland’s superheroes?
Could it be Usain Bolt in disguise?
Checking out the opposition
Cruising the village
Could it be Spiderman?
Tell us who you think they are!
A tower of strength for Team Scotland
AQUATICS – SWIMMING
Fourteen Team Scotland swimmers competed in the pool today as action got underway at Dr SP Mukherkjee Swimming Complex. In the morning session Caitlin McClatchey was first up in the 200m freestyle, but missed out on the final after finishing 17th.
Louise Pate qualified for the 50m butterfly semi-finals, where she finished 11th. David Carry and Robbie Renwick qualified for the 400m final where David went on to finish third, to collect Scotland’s first medal of the Games. Having led for much of the race, Robbie Renwick tired in the last 100 to finish 6th. Both Carry and Renwick will be back in action tomorrow in the 200m freestyle.
Hannah Miley qualified second fastest in the 200m individual medley, her less favoured event, before coming in 5th in the final. Cameron Brodie, Lewis Smith and Andy Mayor competed in the 200m butterfly, but failed to reach the final after coming 11th, 13th and 15th respectively. Kerry Buchan, Kathryn Johnstone and Corrie Scott all qualified for the semi-finals of the 50m breaststroke. Kathryn gave a confident performance and will be Scotland’s sole representative in tomorrow evening’s final. The men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team finished fifth, in both the heats and finals to round off a solid opening day for Scotland’s swimmers and for the second Games in a row were the first sport on the medal table.
ARCHERY
Recurve
In the men’s qualification round of the competition, James Lang, Simon Needlam and Mark Forrester all got off to a steady start to finish 19th, 25th and 27threspectively. All three qualify for Tuesday’s individual elimination round. In the woman’s event Emma Downie finished 19th and also qualified for Tuesdays individual elimination round starting at 0900hrs local time.
Compound
In the woman’s compound qualification round the women gave very strong performances, Claudine Jennings set a Scottish record score (provisional) to rank 3rd, whilst Tracey McGowan scored a personal best to rank 5th, with Susan Maitland ranking 26th. In the men’s compound qualification round, Alistair Whittingham ranked 16th, Kyle Dodds 22nd and Tim Keppie 37th. All compound archers made it through to the individual eliminations rounds on Tuesday starting at 1400.
BADMINTON
Team Scotland’s badminton players got off to a dream start in the mixed team event, beating Barbados 5-0. Only Susan Egelstaff, who won bronze in the women’s singles in Melbourne four years ago, has previous experience of Commonwealth Games competition and she made short work of her opponent Latoya Watson, winning 21-3 21-3. There were also wins for six of the other seven members of the badminton squad with only Emma Mason rested on the first day of competition.
Tomorrow the badminton team will face Wales at 1900hrs local time, who are in the neighbouring block in the Athletes’ Village, in a tie which could potentially decide which of the sides progress to the quarter finals.
BOXING
Scotland’s boxers had trouble weighing-in today after faulty scales delayed proceedings until tomorrow. See full report on the website. Following the draw none of the Scots are in action until Wednesday.
GYMNASTICS
Ryan McKee competed in all six pieces of apparatus apparatus in the men’s individual qualification event. His best score was for the floor where he ranked 16th to finish 25th overall and just miss out on qualification for the individual all around competition. He will now be first reserve. He also missed out on qualification for the individual apparatus finals.
On Tuesday it is the women’s turn to compete in the team event which will also see them post scores to qualify for the individual all around and individual apparatus events. The session starts at 1630hrs local time.
HOCKEY
The men’s and women’s hockey teams are also back in action, with two difficult games, the men facing Pakistan in the morning, and the women, fresh from their heroic 1-1 draw with the mighty India on day one, taking on South Africa in the evening.
LAWN BOWLS
Scotland pairs and triples teams in the lawn bowls started their campaigns today with mixed results. The opening session in the midday heat saw the men’s triple team of Willie Wood, Wayne Hogg and David Peacock lose to Malta and the women’s pairing of Margaret Letham and Caroline Brown losing narrowly on a tie-break to Wales.
Wood and his team mates then faced South Africa in the second round and had to go home winless after a tough match. They’ll have two more matches tomorrow against Brunei, who they beat in a warm-up match a few days ago, followed by Niue who they’ll be looking to overpower.
Letham and Brown bounced back in their second game and defeated Guernsey. Tomorrow they play Brunei followed by the relatively unknown Swaziland. Their triples team also got a win on the board in their match tonight against Namibia. Michelle Cooper, Lorraine Malloy and Lynn Stein have two matches tomorrow against the strong sides of New Zealand then Australia.
Darren Burnett and Neil Spears wrapped up the day with a victory over Botswana and return tomorrow to take on Niue and Papa New Guinea which should be comfortable matches for them if all goes to plan.
The triples and pairs lawn bowls competitions continue today with another packed schedule of eight matches.
SQUASH
In the men’s singles of the squash competition Alan Clyne and Harry Leitch won their first round matches whilst Lyall Paterson received a walkover following the withdrawal of Zambia’s Patrick Chifunda. Unfortunately all three were knocked out of the singles in the second round and they will now compete in the men’s singles plate events tomorrow. Chris Small lost in the first round and also goes in the plate.
In the women’s singles, Frania Gillen-Buchert won her first round match but went out at the next stage of the competition, whilst Lisa Aitken who had a bye in the first round went out in the second. Both will now contest the plate events for women’s singles.
TABLE TENNIS
Scotland’s men’s team gave a good solid performance on the opening day of competition to beat Uganda 3-0 in the first group game. On Tuesday they will play Nigeria, the top seed in the group at 1830hrs local time.
TENNIS
Tennis was making its debut at the Games and Mhairi Brown created a piece of history for herself as she became the first Scottish player to compete in Commonwealth Games competition, an experience made all the more special for the fact she played on Centre Court. However, it was a baptism of fire for the 28 year old doubles specialist from Edinburgh as she went out 6-2 6-1 to sixth seeded Australian Olivia Rogowska in scorching hot conditions.
Later in the day she was back in action in the mixed doubles with Jamie Murray and the pair beat Uganda’s Duncan Mugabe and Jalia Nanfuka 6-2 6-4 to reach the quarter finals. Colin Fleming and Joss Rae also reached the quarters after coming back from a set down to beat the tricky Australian pair Matt Ebden and Sally Peers 3-6 6-3 6-1.
On Tuesday the men’s singles will get underway at 1000hrs local time with Jamie Murray 3rd on Centre Court against Rodney Carey, Bahamas, whilst Colin Fleming will play Chris Lewis, Wales second on court 4. He will be followed by Mhairi Brown and Joss Rae in the women’s doubles who play the Lambert sisters from Bermuda. In the evening session starting ay 1700hrs local time Murray and Brown will be second on court 1 playing top seeded Australians Hanley and Rodionova in the quarter finals.
PREVIEW
CYCLING
The Scots will be in action on the first day of the cycling competition on Tuesday with a number of new riders in the squad getting their first taste of a Commonwealth Games. Jenny Davies and Charline Joiner ride the women’s 500m time trial, with Callum Skinner in the men’s kilometre. Skinner is confident of a personal best, while for Davies and Joiner the time trial will provide valuable race practice on the Delhi track ahead of their main event, the team sprint, on Wednesday.
SHOOTING
Shooters Jennifer McIntosh and Kay Copland will challenge in the small bore rifle 50m 3 positions pairs event starting at 1230hrs local time at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.
In the lawn bowls, the reigning world champion men’s triples team of Willie Wood, Wayne Hogg and David Peacock, and the women’s pairs team of Margaret Letham and Caroline Brown also get their Games underway in the morning. Later in the evening session, men’s pairs Darren Burnett and Neil Spiers and women’s triples Michelle Cooper, Lorraine Malloy and Lynn Stein also make a start
Another sport that is huge in India – squash – sees Team Scotland’s Alan Clyne, Harry Leitch, Lyall Paterson and Chris Small in the men’s singles, with Lisa Aitken and Frania Gillen-Buchert in the women’s singles.
Team Scotland hope to get off to a flying start on day one of the XIX Commonwealth Games, with Melbourne double gold medallists Caitlin McClatchey and David Carry both in the water at the Dr. S. P. Mukherjee Aquatics Complex early on Monday morning.
McClatchey contests the 200m freestyle, which gave her one of her two gold medals in 2006, while Carry goes in the 400m freestyle, in which he, too, is defending one of two Commonwealth titles. This time he will have fellow Aberdonian, Robbie Renwick (a Melbourne silver medallist) pressing him all the way. Hannah Miley will also go in the 200m individual medley, the event she won bronze in at the recent European Championships. The finals in both events are later on Monday, scheduled1600-1730hrs local time.
It’s a busy day at the pool, with Lucy Ellis, Louise Pate, Andrew Mayor, Lewis Smith, Cameron Brodie, Kerry Buchan, Kathryn Johnstone and Corrie Scott all in action.
All ten of the archers also compete on day one in the recurve and compound disciplines: Kyle Dods, Mark Forrester, Tim Keppie, James Laing, Simon Needham, Alistair Whittingham, Emma Downie, Claudine Jennings, Susan Maitland and Tracey McGowan. Also at the Yamuna Sports Comples, the table tennis men’s team event sees Stewart Crawford, Craig Howieson and Gavin Rumgay in action.
At the Siri Fort Sports Complex Team Scotland will take part in the opening pool games in badminton’s mixed team event. And Ryan McKee is in action as the gymnastics competition gets underway at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
The women’s hockey team also begin their campaign with a tough evening draw against the hosts, India.
And finally, Tennis will make its Commonwealth Games debut at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Complex in Delhi on Monday when Mhairi Brown, Colin Fleming, Jamie Murray and Jocelyn Rae will create a piece of history for themselves becoming the first and possibly only Scottish players to step out on court in Commonwealth Games competition. Mhairi will open her singles campaign under the glare of the TV cameras, complete with Hawkeye, on R.K. Khanna’s Centre Court with a tough first round match against Australian sixth seed Olivia Rogowska.
Members of the British Royal Family were welcomed into the Athletes’ Village today as Prince Charles, Prince Edward and the Duchess of Cornwall met athletes and officials in the dining area. Team Scotland Chef de Mission Jon Doig, swimmer Kerry Buchan and weightlifter Graeme Kane, each had the honour of meeting the delegation.
Jon Doig said: “It was fantastic to meet the Royal party in the village this morning. As the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Prince Edward has a wonderful enthusiasm for the Games, and it was a pleasure to introduce him to two of our athletes. Both Prince Charles and the Duchess took great interest in both Kerry and Graeme, and wished the whole team luck for the Games.”
Kerry added: “As a swimmer I need to get up really early for training and competition, but as I explained it’s what I am used to at home. They all asked me about the pool, and were interested to hear about how my training was coming along.”
The Royal delegation had been touring the village and they were impressed by the training venues for weightlifting and wrestling. The Prince of Wales was particularly interested in the intricacies of Graeme’s sport.
Graeme said: “I have a few scratches around my neck, so I was explaining to Prince Charles that they have come from the new bars. When the grip on the bar is new, like they are here, they can be really rough so it can catch you during a lift.”
“It was great to have the opportunity to meet the Royals, and I’ll certainly give them a wave when we walk past in the parade tonight.”
The Royal party will be present at this evening’s Opening Ceremony where Prince Charles will officially open the Games on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.
Ross Edgar led Team Scotland into the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as the XIX Commonwealth Games got underway with a spectacular Opening Ceremony in Delhi on Sunday evening.
It was, said Edgar, “a really proud moment, and up there with the best experiences I’ve ever had in sport.”
The cyclist, elected flag bearer by his fellow Scottish athletes, smiled and waved as he led the team around the track, before the athletes were efficiently whisked out of the stadium and back to the athletes’ village to prepare for competition, with the first events kicking off early on Monday morning.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Edgar. “I was a bit nervous while we were waiting, and it was like an oven in the waiting area. My palms got very sweaty, which was a bit of a shame because I’d planned to do some one-handed flag waving, so I could give the crowd a proper wave.
“But as soon as we walked out into the stadium it was great, absolutely amazing. I could see some Scottish supporters, so I tried to give them a good wave.
“It was a really good experience and a really proud moment for me,” Edgar continued. “It’s definitely up there with the best experiences I’ve ever had in sport.
“It was also very well organised,” added Edgar, “and we got back to the village pretty quickly afterwards.”
First time Team Scotland member Mike Adamson, Rugby 7s said after the Opening Ceremony:
“That was pretty spectacular; I’ve never been to anything like that before. The last song was the most memorable moment for me. It was remarkable how many people were performing in the stadium at the one time. Walking into the stadium really got my heart racing. I managed to spot quite a few Scottish flags in the stadium and I just tried to absorb as much of the atmosphere as I could.”
2006 silver medallist Neil Stirton said: “To step out into the stadium again for Scotland was an incredible feeling. Looking up and seeing the saltires in the crowd brought back some warm memories, and the show was truly spectacular. It’s great knowing that the Games are underway, and I can’t wait to get out to the range to start competing.”
Tennis will make its Commonwealth Games debut at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Complex in Delhi on Monday and Mhairi Brown, Colin Fleming, Jamie Murray and Jocely Rae will create a piece of history for themselves when they become the first Scottish players to step out on court in Commonwealth Games competition.
The small squad of four players will represent Team Scotland in all five events – men’s and women’s singles and doubles and mixed doubles – in a competition where the top seeded positions are dominated by Australia and hosts India.
Both Fleming and Murray will compete in the men’s singles event. Fleming opens up against Welshman Chris Lewis with a match against sixth seed Frank Statham (New Zealand) the likely reward for the winner, whilst Murray will play Rodney Carey of the Bahamas in his opening tie with the prospect of an Anglo-Scottish tie against James Ward in the second round.
In the women’s singles, which includes six players ranked in the top 250 in the world, Mhairi Brown is Scotland’s only competitor. Brown already has experience of a multi-sport event – she was part of the Scottish Team who won a silver medal at the inaugural Commonwealth Youth Games in Edinburgh in 2000. She will open her singles campaign under the glare of the TV cameras, complete with Hawkeye, on R.K. Khanna’s Centre Court with a tough first round match against Australian sixth seed Olivia Rogowska.
There is also a tough opener for Fleming and Murray in the men’s doubles when they face second seeds and home favourites Rohan Bopanna, who was runner-up in the US Open men’s doubles last month, and his partner Somdev Devvarman. The Scots are in the same half of the draw as English third seeds Ken Skupskie, Fleming’s regular doubles partner, and Ross Hutchins.
In the women’s double Brown will partner Jocelyn Rae, the top young GB player based in Nottingham. They open up against sister-act Jacklyn and Tara Lambert (Bermuda) with home favourites and fourth seeds Rushmi Chakravarthi and Sania Mirza awaiting the winners in the next round.
Rae also faces the prospect of a match against Mirza and partner Leander Paes in the mixed doubles, but only if she and Fleming can overcome a tricky first round tie against Australians Matt Ebden and Sally Peers.
Murray, who won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2007, will partner Brown in the mixed. They may also find themselves facing an Aussie couple, top seeds Paul Hanley and Anastasia Rodionova, if they beat their first round opponents Jalia Nanfuka and Duncan Mugabe of Uganda.
Tennis Team Leader Peter Nicolson commented: “It is a mixed draw for our guys with some tough opening round matches against seeded opposition as well as some home favourites who will no doubt have a noisy home crowd on their side.
“But all our players are looking forward to stepping out on court and becoming the first Scottish tennis players to compete in the Commonwealth Games. They are all well prepared and ready to compete and I’m sure they will do us proud.”
The tennis competition runs from 4-10 October.
The Scotland Rugby 7s squad took to the field against India this afternoon in a warm-up match and looked confident as they overpowered the hosts in three seven minute sessions.
All 12 players made an impact on-field with Captain Scott Forrest leading by example and happy with the outcome. He said, “We played well today and didn’t give India many chances to test their attacking skills against us. Some good tries were scored and it was good for us all to get a run in the midday heat and start testing ourselves for the competition ahead.”
Scotland will face New Zealand, Canada and Guyana on the opening day to determine the cross-over matches and ultimate medal winners on day two.
Forrest continued, “We are all really looking forward to playing our three matches on the opening day of competition and see it as a huge honour to be part of Team Scotland.”
The training venue of Hindu College was in first class condition and the team are well looked after by the staff and volunteers on site. Stephen Gemmell, Scotland’s head coach reviewed the performance: “Today was important for the guys to experience match intensity at this heat because it is completely different to anything back home. India were physical and challenged us in the way the Guyana and Canada will do. If you give them the ball, they are going to be dangerous.”
While other teams in the 7s competition have opted to hold training camps in other countries before arriving in Delhi nearer competition date, Scotland wanted plenty of time to adjust to local conditions and also allow the players maximum opportunity to experience the Games.
Gemmell continued, “Our players have a lot of World Series experience but it’s now about trying to get them to as a team and being in the Village really creates the right atmosphere. We’re mixing with world-class athletes from Team Scotland and other countries and it is an unbelievable experience. Results have shown that our players perform best in familiar surroundings so the longer we have here, the better we think it will be for us.”
This afternoon, Team Scotland Chef de Mission Jon Doig and Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman, Michael Cavanagh, welcomed the Minister for Public Health & Sport Shona Robison, into the Athletes’ Village.
The Minister toured the village with Jon and Michael, taking time to drop into the team’s main accommodation block to meet some of the athletes. She also visited the dining area and the wrestling and weightlifting training venues before taking in some of the spectacular welcome ceremony for Rwanda.
Jon Doig said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister into the Village this afternoon. The Scottish Government is a great supporter of Team Scotland, and the Minister herself is passionate about the success of our athletes. I am glad she got the chance to speak with some of the them before the Games begins, and I know she will be cheering us on from the stands.”
Following her visit Shona Robison said:
“It has been a great pleasure to visit Team Scotland in the Games Village and see their living quarters first hand.
“After what has been a challenging few weeks where accommodation has come under close scrutiny I am pleased to see the athletes adapting to and enjoying life in the Village and even more importantly eager to get on with the competition.
“The members of the team I have spoken to today seem more than happy with the standard of their accommodation but we will continue to keep a close eye on the situation to ensure this remains to be the case.
“I would again like to take this opportunity to commend the ongoing positive attitude of Team Scotland, the efforts of the advance party in readying the Games Village and the media for their positive coverage of the team all the while reporting on the realities of the pre-games period.
“The Opening Ceremony is almost upon us and I look forward to what I hope will be a very successful few weeks for Team Scotland.”