Five young swimmers, who will represent Team Scotland at the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in July, begin their globe-trotting summer schedule as they pull on Great Britain colours for the LEN European Junior Swimming Championships, which start today in Netanya, Israel.
The full Scottish contingent in Israel will be six, as Team Scotland Youth Games athletes Scott McLay (Perth City), Luke Robins, Isabel Jones (Millfield), Tom Beeley (University of Aberdeen Performance) and Anna Fleming (City of Glasgow Swim Team) are joined by FIRST swimmer Ryan Retson in a team of 37 athletes who will compete at the European Junior event from 28 June to 2 July.
The selections come on the back of strong performances at April’s British Junior Championships where the highlights were Scott McLay’s gold in the 50m Backstroke, adding silver in the 50 Freestyle and bronze in the 100m Backstroke to complete his set of medals, and double bronze for Tom Beeley, reaching the podium in both the 100m and 200m Butterfly.
The British team have spent a few days in Netanya honing their final preparation and British Swimming Head of Elite Development, Tim Jones, hopes the event will inspire these swimmers at a crucial point in their careers.
“This is a great opportunity for this group of athletes. We are at the beginning of an Olympic cycle and there is no reason why this talented group can’t put themselves into contention for the Tokyo Games in 2020,” said Jones.
“I’m looking for the hidden gems within the programme and this event offers a great opportunity to unearth these. I want athletes to embrace what this important event has to offer and to use it to take their sport to the next level.”
For inspiration, these young swimmers need look no further than Stirling University star Duncan Scott, who won two gold and a bronze at the 2014 European Junior Championships, before going on to win medals at both the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Following the European Juniors, the Youth Games swimmers will have just 12 days before they join their team mates on the plane to Bahamas 2017 – ready to gather even more international experience.
As part of Team Scotland’s countdown to the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in July, we will be featuring each of the seven sports in which Scottish athletes will be competing.
Next up in our Sport Focus is Swimming which, grouped along with Diving and Synchronised Swimming as Aquatics, is Team Scotland’s most successful sport at both Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games. Swimming is a core sport at the Youth Games and must be included every time the Games are held. Diving is an optional sport and has not yet been contested at Youth Games level.
Team Scotland swimmers at the Youth Games have provided, not just an impressive medal tally of 67 across the five previous editions, but also a fantastic track record of swimmers progressing onto success in the senior ranks. Hannah Miley, Robbie Renwick, Craig Benson, Todd Cooper and Kirsty Balfour, to name just a few, began their career with Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games before going on to Commonwealth Games and Olympic success as seniors.
Look out for all things Swimming on the Team Scotland website and social media channels over the coming week as we highlight the sport through news articles, interviews and a wealth of Swimming facts and figures. Search for #CYGSportFocus on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Find out more about Swimming at the Commonwealth Youth Games, including the competition format, rules and equipment on our dedicated Swimming page.
Team Scotland 2017
Team Scotland will be represented by eight swimmers at Bahamas 2017, five of whom will also represent Great Britain at this week’s European Junior Championships in Israel (28 June-2 July). The team includes multiple Scottish age-group record holder Scott McLay, who took a trio of medals at the 2017 British Junior Championships, including gold in the 50m Backstroke. He is joined by fellow British Junior Championship medallists Emma Harvey and Thomas Beeley, plus City of Glasgow’s Anna Fleming who holds an incredible 15 Scottish Age Group records. At 15 years old, Roisin Ramsay is Team Scotland’s youngest athlete making the trip to the Bahamas, with Isabel Jones, Luke Robins and Sophie Smith completing the line up.
Find out more about the athletes representing Team Scotland in the Bahamas in their Athlete Profiles.
Team Scotland will compete in Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Swimming and Tennis at the Bahamas 2017 Youth Games which take place in Nassau from 18-23 July.
You can show your support by uploading photos and messages on our Supporters Page and give Team Scotland’s athletes a boost as they prepare for one of the biggest competitions of their career to date!
The Commonwealth Youth Games
The Commonwealth Youth Games concept was created by Scotland as a development opportunity to give athletes under 18 years of age an international multi-sport Games experience. It aims to bridge the gap between young athletes competing in their own sports specific events and the often challenging first experience of a senior Commonwealth Games.
The first Youth Games were held in Edinburgh in 2000 as part of Scotland’s Millennium celebrations. Athletes from 14 countries competed in Edinburgh and the event quickly proved to be a great success. The Youth Games now attracts entries from all 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth and has been the introduction to multi-sport Games for a host of international stars.
Find out more about the Commonwealth Youth Games and Team Scotland’s past success in our Youth Games section.
As part of Team Scotland’s countdown to the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in July, we will be featuring each of the seven sports in which Scottish athletes will be competing.
Next up in our Sport Focus is Judo, Team Scotland’s most successful sport at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. In fact, Judo has been Scotland’s most successful sport at each of the three Commonwealth Games where the sport has made an appearance. The sport will make its Commonwealth Youth Games debut at Bahamas 2017, with six young judoka flying the flag for Scotland.
Look out for all things Judo on the Team Scotland website and social media channels over the coming week as we highlight the sport through news articles, interviews and a wealth of Judo facts and figures. Look for #CYGSportFocus
Find out more about Judo at the Commonwealth Youth Games, including the competition format, rules and equipment on our dedicated Judo page.
Team Scotland 2017
Team Scotland will be represented by six judoka at Bahamas 2017, the first to represent Team Scotland at a Commonwealth Youth Games. The team includes reigning British Cadet Champion Louis Saez and current British number one Emily Ritchie, with all six having made an impressive start to 2017.
The full team is; Fiona Todman (48kg), Emma Forrest (57kg), Emily Ritchie (70kg+), Connor Wilson (60kg), Ryan Quigley (73kg) and Louis Saez (90kg).
Find out more about the athletes representing Team Scotland in the Bahamas in their Athlete Profiles.
Team Scotland will compete in Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Swimming and Tennis at the Bahamas 2017 Youth Games which take place in Nassau from 18-23 July.
You can show your support by uploading photos and messages on our Supporters Page and give Team Scotland’s athletes a boost as they prepare for one of the biggest competitions of their career to date!
The Commonwealth Youth Games
The Commonwealth Youth Games concept was created by Scotland as a development opportunity to give athletes under 18 years of age an international multi-sport Games experience. It aims to bridge the gap between young athletes competing in their own sports specific events and the often challenging first experience of a senior Commonwealth Games.
The first Youth Games were held in Edinburgh in 2000 as part of Scotland’s Millennium celebrations. Athletes from 14 countries competed in Edinburgh and the event quickly proved to be a great success. The Youth Games now attracts entries from all 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth and has been the introduction to multi-sport Games for a host of international stars.
Find out more about the Commonwealth Youth Games and Team Scotland’s past success in our Youth Games section.
Five of Scotland’s top young athletes, including three medallists for Team Scotland at the Samoa 2015 Youth Games, have been selected for July’s European Junior Championships in Grossetto, Italy.
Four of the five were named off the back of impressive performances at last weekend’s England Athletics U23 and U20 Championships in Bedford, where the Scottish contingent returned with 19 medals, eight of them gold.
George Evans, Alisha Rees and Ben Greenwood, all medallists at the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games, made their mark in the U20 age group with Evans taking gold in both shot put and discus, Rees lowering her 200m best to 23.52 to win gold into a slight headwind and 800m runner Greenwood taking silver.
Also in the U20 age group, there was a fine double gold for Jemma Reekie, winning both 1500m and 3000m across a busy weekend.
All four have been named in the Great Britain team heading to the European Junior Championships in July, along with heptathlete Holly McArthur, who broke the Scottish U20 record earlier this year.
While their predecessors were in medal winning form, several athletes selected for the upcoming Bahamas 2017 Youth Games were also in action in Bedford, with sprinter Adam Clayton the top performer. Competing up an age group in the U20 100m, he stormed to a Scottish U17 record of 10.71 to erase a mark which had stood for 40 years.
In the U23 events Kelsey Stewart smashed her lifetime best to win the 400m in 53.63, receiving her gold medal from 1992 Olympic champion Sally Gunnell. Glasgow’s Mhairi Hendry, ranked third going into the women’s 800m, upset the form book to take gold by just three hundredths of a second, while in the men’s 1500m Neil Gourley was also victorious ahead of a tightly packed field.
The 400m Hurdles saw Jack Lawrie put in a fantastic run for silver, missing the Scottish National record by a single hundredth of a second, with a new lifetime best of 50.25.
The GB team for the European U23 Championships will be announced tomorrow, Wednesday 21 June.
Full list of Scottish medallists at the England U20/U23 Championships:
GOLD
Jemma Reekie U20 1500m / 3000m
George Evans U20 Shot Put / Discus
Alisha Rees U20 200m
Mhairi Hendry U23 800m
Kelsey Stewart U23 400m
Neil Gourley U23 1500m
SILVER
Ben Greenwood U20 800m
Sol Sweeney U20 3000m
Jack Lawrie U23 400m Hurdles
BRONZE
Kirstin Oakley U20 3000m Steeplechase
Lewis Brown U20 400m
Adam Boyle U20 Javelin
Stacie Taylor U23 3000m Steeplechase
Carolyn Harvey U23 Triple Jump
Mhari MacLennan U23 5000m
Megan Davies U23 1500m
Mhari Patience U23 400m Hurdles
With just a month to go to departure for Bahamas 2017, athletes and staff gathered in Stirling for their pre-Games Team Camp and a chance to get to know each other ahead of their journey to the sixth Commonwealth Youth Games.
Information on what they can expect there, along with team building exercises and the all-important collection of their Team Scotland kit, was all on the agenda for the 41-strong team. The action packed day also saw the special announcement of the team’s flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony.
Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman, Paul Bush OBE announced that 17 year old boxer, Lewis Johnstone from Airdrie had been chosen saying: “To be named as flagbearer for Team Scotland at the Youth Games is a huge honour and Lewis’s selection is a direct reflection of his performances over the last few years. Not only is Lewis a promising athlete in his own right, but his attitude and commitment to fellow team members makes him an excellent role model.
Lewis, who will be the first boxer to carry the flag for Team Scotland at a Commonwealth Youth Games, is a multiple Scottish and British age-group champion and has an impressive record of international success. He represented Scotland at the 2015 World Junior Championships and is a double European Junior Championship bronze medallist, reaching the podium in both 2015 and 2016. He performed brilliantly in his international debut at Youth level with a bronze medal at the 2017 Pavlyukov Multi-Nation Tournament in Russia, commonly dubbed the ‘Youth World Cup’.
Lewis also works in his local council gym helping people train from young to old. He has been a team captain on a few occasions as he is a good motivator and team player demonstrating his friendliness and approachability.
Lewis was voted as flagbearer by his Scotland team-mates, after a shortlist of three was selected prior to the Team Camp. Fellow shortlisted nominees, Stephen Dent, Cycling (Fort William) and Erin Wallace, Athletics (Glasgow), will walk immediately behind Lewis into the Opening Ceremony, followed by the rest of the team.
A delighted Lewis Johnstone said: “I am absolutely delighted to be named the flag bearer for Team Scotland 2017, this is definitely the proudest moment of my sporting career and it is showing that my hard work and training is clearly paying off. I am really looking forward to the Games and cannot wait to carry the flag out at the Opening Ceremony on behalf of the whole team. It will be great to see my family at the Opening Ceremony and will definitely be a great moment for everyone involved.”
The selection and announcement of the flagbearer is a longstanding tradition, and Lewis Johnstone will follow in the footsteps of Louise Carroll (Hockey), Gemma Nicol (Athletics), Lisa Glover (Athletics), Tom Holligan (Athletics) and Craig McLean (Swimming), who carried the flag at the previous five editions of the Commonwealth Youth Games.
As part of Team Scotland’s countdown to the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in July, we will be featuring each of the seven sports in which Scottish athletes will be competing.
Next up in our Sport Focus is Athletics which, as a core sport at the Commonwealth Youth Games, has appeared at every edition since their inception in 2000. Team Scotland have enjoyed medal success in Athletics at every Youth Games to date, and for many athletes the Youth Games have been a first step on the path to international success. Current stars Lynsey Sharp, Eilish McColgan, Beth Potter and Chris O’Hare all competed at the Pune 2008 Youth Games before going on to represent Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014 and Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Look out for all things Athletics on the Team Scotland website and social media channels over the coming week as we highlight the sport through news articles, interviews and a wealth of Athletics facts and figures.
Find out more about Athletics at the Commonwealth Youth Games, including the competition format, rules and equipment on our dedicated Athletics page.
Team Scotland 2017
Team Scotland will be represented by 11 track & field athletes at Bahamas 2017, Team Scotland’s largest Youth Games Athletics squad since 2004. Scottish and British U17 indoor record holder and European Youth Championships bronze medallist, Erin Wallace, is joined in the Bahamas 2017 team by fellow Scottish U17 record holders Alessandro Schenini, Adam Clayton and Adam Scott.
The full Athletics team is; Fraser Angus (200m), Adam Clayton (100m), Lauren Greig (200m), Calum Henderson (LJ), Naomi Lang (3000m), Bethany McAndrew (100m Hurdles), Alessandro Schenini (LJ), Adam Scott (1500m), Madeline Silcock (100m), Olivia Vareille (400m) and Erin Wallace (800m / 1500m).
Find out more about the athletes representing Team Scotland in the Bahamas in their Athlete Profiles.
Team Scotland will compete in Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Swimming and Tennis at the Bahamas 2017 Youth Games which take place in Nassau from 18-23 July.
You can show your support by uploading photos and messages on our supporters page and give Team Scotland’s athletes a boost as they prepare for one of the biggest competitions of their career to date!
The Commonwealth Youth Games
The Commonwealth Youth Games concept was created by Scotland as a development opportunity to give athletes under 18 years of age an international multi-sport Games experience. It aims to bridge the gap between young athletes competing in their own sports specific events and the often challenging first experience of a senior Commonwealth Games.
The first Youth Games were held in Edinburgh in 2000 as part of Scotland’s Millennium celebrations. Athletes from 14 countries competed in Edinburgh and the event quickly proved to be a great success. The Youth Games now attracts entries from all 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth and has been the introduction to multi-sport Games for a host of international stars.
Find out more about the Commonwealth Youth Games and Team Scotland’s past success in our Youth Games section.
Meet Emma Waldie and Jennifer Lee, recently selected for the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in Beach Volleyball.
The pair are the 2016 Scottish Beach Volleyball Champions in the U18 age group and also have a wealth of experience in the indoor game, including as part of the Scotland U19 squad who took bronze at the SCD European Championships last year.
When Emma and Jennifer step onto court in the Bahamas, they will become the first Beach Volleyball pairing to represent Team Scotland at any Commonwealth Games event and are understandably excited at the prospect!
Congratulations on becoming part of Team Scotland 2017, what are you most looking forward to about the Youth Games?
Emma
I’m so excited about everything! The opportunity to play at such a high-profile event in an amazing country is obviously at the top of the list. More specifically, I am really looking forward to meeting a variety of athletes and working alongside a team of experienced staff to learn more about the high-performance lifestyle.
Jennifer
Emma and I have competed in many competitions and tournaments over the past couple of years as a Beach pairing and so both of us being selected for the biggest one yet is just a dream come true. I’m so excited to share it with her!
What does it mean to be the first athletes to represent Team Scotland in Beach Volleyball at any Commonwealth Games?
Jennifer
I feel extremely lucky to be one of the two athletes who are representing Team Scotland in Beach Volleyball for the first time at any Commonwealth Games. Due to our young age, it feels like we have achieved so much as a pairing already to get here, which makes me feel quite overwhelmed!
Emma
Being first makes the whole experience that bit more meaningful for us. Although there are no expectations to live up to, we are delighted to be the team to set the standards for future Scotland Beach Volleyball squads.
How did you get in to Beach Volleyball?
Emma
I’ve played Indoor Volleyball for 11 years for City of Edinburgh Volleyball Club. In 2015 it was announced that there would be a Beach Volleyball squad travelling to Holland for the International Children’s Games (ICG). I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to be one of the two players in this team. We trained a few nights a week and competed in tournaments at the weekend in preparation for ICG. This was my first exposure to Beach Volleyball so coming 7th out of 12 was not too bad!
Jennifer
I first got in to Beach Volleyball through Emma. I have also played Indoor Volleyball for 11 years, and Emma and I have been on the same team for several of those years. We were very familiar with each other’s game and we had a very strong bond within. Emma had already played Beach and asked me if I’d join her as a pairing.
What are the differences as a player between Beach Volleyball and Indoor Volleyball?
Jennifer
There are several differences as a player between Beach Volleyball and Indoor, and one of the main differences is that beach requires you to be stronger in all areas but especially overall fitness. In Beach Volleyball, there are only two of you, so each of you has to cover a much larger amount of court space, unlike Indoor where there are six players to cover a court which isn’t much bigger.
Emma
I think people underestimate how contrasting the two sports are. They are COMPLETELY different. I agree that the main difference is in fitness and also the increased responsibility each player has on the beach, since there are only two of you, as opposed to six indoors. Beach players have to be a lot stronger physically, in terms of speed, power and overall fitness and also have to be mentally tougher for a couple of reasons- there are no substitutions and you only have each other for support as opposed to another five players. There are other smaller differences such as the ball; the size of court; the surface; some rules and dealing with the weather (especially in Scotland!)
What’s the one thing you love about your sport?
Emma
My favourite thing about Beach Volleyball has to be the tactical side of the game. I love learning new tips and tricks in training which can be implemented in matches.
Jennifer
The one thing I love most about the sport is that it is completely different to Indoor Volleyball and is exciting in its own way. I specifically love the fact there are only two of us on a team, as I feel it is easier to bond and get to know each other better on and off the court. We also understand the way each other plays and can easily give each other support and advice on how we can improve our game. It’s just a bonus that Emma and I were close friends before we started playing beach, so it was easier and more exciting going into the beach world with an already strong bond!
Give us an interesting fact that we might not know about Beach Volleyball?
Jennifer
The first two-man Beach Volleyball game was played in 1930! Also, due to the sand being so hard to run in, we don’t feel as good as we look!
Emma
Beach volleyball is the only Olympic sport that has a rule which prohibits players from wearing too much – and each player jumps around 300 times in one match!
How is your schedule shaping up ahead of the Youth Games?
Jennifer
So far our schedule has been very busy! We have been training on the beach in St Andrews a few times a week with our coach Colin, who has been helping us to improve our fitness and all other aspects of the game. Emma and I have also been down to our local beach in our spare time to work on our fitness on the sand, which is helping massively! I have also been going to the gym up to 5 times a week so it’s fair to say we’ve both been pretty busy in preparation for the Games!
Emma
We also have numerous preparation tournaments planned prior to the Games. Alongside Beach Volleyball, I have just been selected to play with Scotland National Team at the Indoor Small Countries Division European Finals in Luxembourg at the end of June so, as well as the beach, I am also training 15 hours a week indoor and 4 days a week in the gym.
Emma and Jennifer will represent Team Scotland in the women’s team event at Bahamas 2017, which takes place from 18-23 July. We wish them all the best with their training and look forward to seeing our first ever Beach Volleyball pairing make history in the Bahamas!
Find out more about the girls in Emma’s Athlete Profile and Jennifer’s Athlete Profile, and about Beach Volleyball as a Commonwealth Youth Games sport on our Youth Games Beach Volleyball page.
As part of Team Scotland’s build up to the Youth Games, we’re featuring each sport on the programme with articles, interviews and more. Keep checking the Team Scotland website for more on Beach Volleyball and the other sports at Bahamas 2017 and look for #CYGSportFocus on our social media channels.
East Kilbride swept to an unprecedented fourth consecutive Scottish Cup title as the Team Scotland Series came to Oriam in Edinburgh for the Netball Scotland National Finals Day on Saturday 3 June.
The climax of the Netball Scotland season, Scotland’s top clubs battled it out in the finals of the Scottish Cup, Scottish Youth Cup and Evelyn Beattie Quaich.
The highlight of the day was a thrilling Scottish Cup final, which saw the 2015 finalists, East Kilbride and Edinburgh Netball Club Onyx, in a re-match for the 2017 title. The first quarter was an incredibly tight and physical affair with East Kilbride snatching a one goal lead in the final minute, a lead they extended out to seven by half time.
East Kilbride extended their lead further in the third, but it was the final quarter where the game came alive. A revitalised Edinburgh side opened with a flurry of goals, digging deep for every ball and clawing the deficit back. East Kilbride were not to be toppled however, holding their nerve to take the win 65-40 and with it their fourth Scottish Cup title in a row.
The Team Scotland Series brings together the Scottish Championships of 13 Commonwealth Games sports, with the aim of raising the profile of these events and the important role they play on athletes’ journeys towards competing for Team Scotland at a Commonwealth Games. With Glasgow 2014 players Lynsey Gallagher and Samantha Murphy in action for East Kilbride in the Scottish Cup final, alongside a wealth of up-and-coming talent on display in the Youth Cup finals, nowhere was this journey more apparent than at Oriam on Saturday.
In the U17 Scottish Youth Cup final it was Avon Netball Club who controlled the game from the start, taking a commanding 18 goal lead over their opponents Holyrood Colts by half time and never looking back. The U15 final saw G84 Pressure emerge victorious over defending champions Peebles Pulse, but there was a turn of fortunes for Peebles in the U13 final, runners up last year in this age group, as they triumphed 32-21 in a close encounter with Perth.
The Evelyn Beattie Quiach was won by Bellahouston Blaze, just two goals ahead at half time in their match with Kelvin, but controlling the final stages to win 58-44.
Players of the Match were selected by an expert panel headed up by Lesley MacDonald, captain of Team Scotland’s Glasgow 2014 squad and now Netball Scotland’s Pathways Development Manager and Scotland Under 21s Head Coach. Congratulations to Jenna Storie (Bellahouston), India Duffy (Perth NC), Anna Sherry (G84 Pressure), Gillian Thomson (Avon) and Lynsey Gallagher (East Kilbride) on their awards.
The next event in the Team Scotland Series will be the Scottish Open Swimming Championships from 29 June- 2 July at Aberdeen Sports Village. For details of this, and all upcoming Series events, visit the Team Scotland Series page.
Netball Scotland National Finals Day Results:
| Evelyn Beattie Quaich | Bellahouston Blaze | 58 | v | 44 | Kelvin |
| Under 13 Scottish Youth Cup | Perth Netball Club | 21 | v | 32 | Peebles Rockets |
| Under 15 Scottish Youth Cup | Peebles Pulse | 27 | v | 44 | G84 Pressure |
| Under 17 Scottish Youth Cup | Avon | 65 | v | 37 | Holyrood Celts |
| Scottish Cup | East Kilbride | 64 | v | 40 | ENC Onyx |
As part of Team Scotland’s countdown to the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in July, we will be featuring each of the seven sports in which Scottish athletes will be competing.
Next up in our Sport Focus is Beach Volleyball, which makes its Commonwealth Youth Games debut at Bahamas 2017. The sport will then make its full Commonwealth Games debut at the Gold Coast 2018 Games in Australia.
Look out for all things Beach Volleyball on the Team Scotland website and social media channels over the coming week as we highlight the sport through news articles, interviews and a wealth of Beach Volleyball facts and figures.
Find out more about Beach Volleyball in the Commonwealth Games, including the competition format, rules and equipment on our dedicated Beach Volleyball page.
Team Scotland 2017
Jennifer Lee and Emma Waldie will become the first Beach Volleyball players ever to represent Team Scotland at a Commonwealth Games event when they line up at the Bahamas 2017 Youth Games. The pair were part of the Scotland Indoor Volleyball team which took bronze at the SCD European U19 Championships in 2016 and are the current Scottish U18 Beach Volleyball Champions.
View the full Bahamas 2017 team.
Team Scotland will compete in Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Swimming and Tennis at the Bahamas 2017 Youth Games which take place in Nassau from 18-23 July.
You can show your support by uploading photos and messages on our supporters page and give Team Scotland’s athletes a boost as they prepare for one of the biggest competitions of their career to date!
The Commonwealth Youth Games
The Commonwealth Youth Games concept was created by Scotland as a development opportunity to give athletes under 18 years of age an international multi-sport Games experience. It aims to bridge the gap between young athletes competing in their own sports specific events and the often challenging first experience of a senior Commonwealth Games.
The first Youth Games were held in Edinburgh in 2000 as part of Scotland’s Millennium celebrations. Athletes from 14 countries competed in Edinburgh and the event quickly proved to be a great success. The Youth Games now attracts entries from all 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth and has been the introduction to multi-sport Games for a host of international stars.
Find out more about the Commonwealth Youth Games and Team Scotland’s past success in our Youth Games section.
Nominations are open for the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards 2017!
Last year’s inaugural Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards were a resounding success, with a host of Scottish sports stars present and recognised for their part in making Scotland such a successful and proud sporting nation. Now is the time to nominate your 2017 winners, with the closing date for the following awards fast approaching:
- Volunteer of the Year
- Community Sport Hub/Club/School of the Year
- Sport Governing Body of the Year
- Games Legacy Award
- Team Scot of the Year
Nominations for these awards close on Monday 19 June.
This is your chance to ensure the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes are recognised and have their moment in the limelight. Are you inspired by a dedicated volunteer or proud of a sports group in your community? Does your local school go above and beyond for its pupils? Download a nomination form to nominate someone today and tell us why they should be rewarded for their success, dedication or impact on Scottish sport.
Nominations for Male Athlete, Female Athlete, Para-Sport Athlete, Young Athlete, Coach and Team of the Year will close on 7 August.
From the nominations received, up to three finalists in each category will be short-listed and invited as guests of Team Scotland to the Awards – a star-studded celebration of Scottish sport on Thursday 21 September, 2017.
Join Us
Help us to fly the flag for Scotland as we celebrate our country’s greatest sporting achievements over the last 12 months, with funds being raised to help the Scottish Commonwealth Games Youth Trust support our athletes of the future.
The centrepiece of the evening will be an in-depth interview with Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, rower, Dame Katherine Grainger DBE, as we explore some of the challenges facing Scottish sport. BBC Sport, presenter Hazel Irvine will tease out the issues and highlight the important contribution sport makes to all our lives.
Last year’s event reached full capacity and tickets are selling fast for 2017. The impressive, world-class facilities at EICC will, once again, host this special evening of sporting celebrations, drinks reception, dinner and entertainment. Book now to ensure you are part of the celebrations.
Book online on our Awards Tickets page or contact us on Tel: 01786 466 480 or Email: info@teamscotland.scot