Commonwealth Games Scotland is saddened to hear of the passing of Douglas Brown on Saturday 3 September 2016. Douglas was a long standing, loyal and hard-working supporter of Commonwealth sport in Scotland.
Both Douglas and his beloved wife, Noreen, were involved in swimming for many years, supporting his four children at Inverleith ASC and East District. In 1999, Douglas was nominated by Scottish Swimming to the post of Honorary Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland, as it was known then. He was duly elected and continued to hold that role until standing down in 2011 at which time the role of Honorary Life Vice President was bestowed on him for his considerable service and dedication to Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Instrumental in establishing a Scottish Centre for the 2002 Games, along with other Board members and supporters, he creating a dedicated ‘wee bit of Scotland in the heart of Manchester’ for athletes and their families to be reunited and meet.
With Noreen, Douglas represented Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland at Commonwealth Games Federation General Assemblies across the Commonwealth and both were especially key in supporting the Bid to bring the Games to Glasgow in 2014.
Noreen died in June 2015. The entire Commonwealth Games family sends their condolences to the family of Douglas.
The funeral will be on Tuesday 13 September at 1030 hours and held in William Purves Oakvale on 106 Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh. There will be a wake directly afterwards at the Bruntsfield Hotel.
As the qualification period for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast approaches, the future of basketball in Scotland was today given an unprecedented boost with the announcement of a partnership between the Glasgow Rocks, Caledonia Pride, basketballscotland, and sportscotland.
The Rocks and Pride will now play a major role on the Player Pathway in Scotland with the recruitment of two full-time national team coaches, to work within both franchise teams, linking professional basketball to the national men’s and women’s teams for the first time.
With these positions made possible by an additional investment from sportscotland of £280,000 into the basketballscotland performance programme, the partnership aims to progress performances both on and off the court, improving Scottish basketball as a whole.
It is hoped that the majority of the national team players will remain in Scotland to train and play full-time, bringing together a core of the Scotland Senior Men’s and Women’s National Teams and providing the players with an excellent training environment as they bid to qualify for the Games on Australia’s Gold Coast in 2018.
The Rocks expect attendances to grow through increased engagement with the wider basketball community in the country, and hope to be a focal point for fans of the game across Scotland.
Long-term, the project aims to contribute to the long-term improvement of performance basketball and also inspire more youngsters to take up the sport through having Scottish role models playing in Scotland.
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said:
“This partnership represents an excellent opportunity to enhance basketball’s performance programmes in Scotland. By working together in this way basketballscotland, sportscotland, Glasgow Rocks, and Caledonia Pride will create a stronger and more sophisticated performance pathway for men’s and women’s basketball in Scotland.
“It’s an exciting project for the sport which can really help the players in Scotland, and we’re delighted to be investing an additional £280,000 into performance programmes over the next two years.”
CEO of basketballscotland, Kevin Pringle added: “We are delighted that sportscotland is investing in basketball’s performance system. We are working to make a sustainable change in our system and our culture to ensure we can develop performance level players for the long-term. By establishing a partnership with the Glasgow Rocks, alongside the launch of our women’s franchise, Caledonia Pride, we will provide Scotland’s top athletes an outlet to train together over the next two seasons as preparation for the Commonwealth Games in 2018. By working together, the game in Scotland can benefit for generations to come.”
Owner of the Glasgow Rocks, Ian Reid, commented:
“The partnership with basketballscotland is a significant step forward for the game in the short, medium and longer term. Just over the horizon are the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia and we have a shared agenda with the Governing Body and with sportscotland to enable a Scottish team to represent the nation with distinction.
Over the last 10 years Glasgow Rocks, together with Scottish Sports Futures, our charity partner, have introduced over 100,000 young people to the sport and some of these participants are now representing Scotland at age group level. As a consequence, Scotland now has a significantly higher player base and it makes sense to ensure that there is a pathway for talented individuals to progress to the highest level. This agreement enables that vision and all of us at the Glasgow Rocks will be working towards achieving this.”
As Team GB landed back in the UK aboard specially chartered flight BA2016, the 47-strong Scottish contingent had much to celebrate following a record performance on many levels.
In a British team that surpassed all expectations, taking second place in the medal table ahead of China and becoming the first team in history to better the medal count at a home Games, the Scottish medal tally of 13 also equalled the best ever haul at an Olympics, set at London 2012.
There were four stand out gold medals for Scots in Rio, with two Scots successfully defendingtitles from 2012. Andy Murray became the first person ever to retain an Olympic tennis singles title following an epic duel of a final with Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina whilst there was also repeat gold for Heather Stanning with Helen Glover in the coxless pair, the duo extending their five year unbeaten streak for victory.
The other golds came from two rising stars of the velodrome. Glasgow 2014 bronze medallist KatieArchibald, with teammates Joanna Rowsell, Elinor Barker and Laura Trott, topped the podium, lowering the World and Olympic record in each round of the Team Pursuit. Callum Skinner then stepped into the large shoes of the legendary Sir Chris Hoy to anchor the Team Sprint home in an Olympic record ahead of New Zealand. Skinner was not done there, adding silver in the individual sprint behind GB team mate, Rio room-mate and defending champion Jason Kenny.
At her fifth Games, and having taken a two year break from the sport following gold at London 2012, Katherine Grainger became Britain’s most decorated female Olympian as she took her fifth consecutive medal with silver in the Double Sculls with Vicky Thornley. The elation evident as she received the medal showed exactly what it meant to respond to this most recent challenge.
Also on the water there was silver for Polly Swann and Karen Bennett with their team mates in the rowing eight.
As one Olympic career peaks, another begins and, at just 19 years old, Duncan Scott was the Scottish star of the pool with two silver medals in relays and an individual final place in the 100m Freestyle. In the latter event he set a British record in his heat and equalled it in the final for 5th place, only 0.16 seconds off bronze.
The first of those relay medals, in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay, was an all Scottish affair in the heats as Scott, Stephen Milne, Dan Wallace and Robbie Renwick took Team GB comfortably into the final. Renwick was the one to miss out on the final, as he stepped aside for reigning World individual champion James Guy. Guy brought the team home to silver behind the USA in a new British record with all five men getting a medal for their efforts in the heat and final. Scott claimed his second silver in the 4x100m medley relay and was photographed being congratulated by the great Michael Phelps, who won his 23rd and final Olympic gold swimming in his last race.
In the canoe slalom, David Florence claimed an impressive third successive Olympic silver, his second in the C2 with Richard Hounslow as they repeated their finish from London 2012.
For Mark Bennett and Mark Robertson it was also a fantastic silver with the Rugby 7s team. The squad, who had only been brought together 6 weeks prior to the Games, were denied a fairy tale ending by Fiji who created one of their own, winning their nation’s first ever gold.
Sally Conway, Commonwealth bronze medallist in Glasgow two years ago, was narrowly beaten in her semi-final and went on to take bronze once again. She becomes the first Scottish judoka in history to claim an Olympic medal. Among the scalps she took on route to the podium was current World Champion Gévrise Émane of France.
Bronze for Eilidh Doyle as part of the 4x400m relay was a hugely significant event in Scottish athletics history as the first Olympic track and field medal for a Scot in 28 years. It was also the medal that equalled the best ever Scottish tally and, as Team GB’s 66th medal of Rio 2016, took them past London’s record total of 65.
There were also a host of strong performances outside the medals with many athletes making finals or setting national records, including Hannah Miley coming within centimetres of bronze on the opening day in the pool. There were Scottish records and 6th places for both Andrew Butchart and Lynsey Sharp on the track and a top ten finish in the marathon for Callum Hawkins in just his third outing over the distance.
The final medal tally for the Scots on Team GB stands at four gold, seven silver and two bronze.
Reflecting on an incredible 16 days of sport, Paul Bush, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland congratulated all the Scottish athletes, along with all their colleagues on Team GB.
“Irrespective of their final positions, all the athletes made us proud. Their families and all those providing support to them have our gratitude for their efforts. Our attention now turns back to Rio from 7-18 September as the nation’s Paralympians go for glory. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to celebrating a fantastic year of sport with Scottish Olympians and Paralympians at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on 28 September. From then, it’s onwards to the Gold Coast in 2018.”
The exciting new partnership of Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban scored a magnificent victory, taking gold at the World Doubles Squash Championships in Darwin, Australia.
Incredibly their first tournament together was last month’s selection event at Scotstoun, where their comfortable victory hinted at things to come. The pair built through the rounds in Darwin, claiming their place in the final after an epic 73 minute match with the Australian top seeds Cameron Pilley and Ryan Cuskelly.
The final, also against Australian opposition, proved a more straightforward affair. The No. 4seed duo of David Palmer and Zac Alexander started well but Clyne and Lobban had the edge, taking the first game 11-8. The Scots then powered through to take the second, 11-4, and with it the World title.
Clyne just missed out on a medal in 4th with former partner Harry Leitch at both Glasgow 2014 and Delhi 2010, where it was Pilley and Cuskelly who beat them to bronze. The new pairing’s prospects now look bright for Gold Coast 2018 as they aim for Team Scotland’s first Commonwealth squash medal since 1998.
Martin Heath, Scottish Squash Elite Performance Coach, said:
“I’m delighted for Alan & Greg, and this counts as great success for Scottish Squash. The big match was against Pilley and Cuskelly in the semis, the No.1 seeds. They were under huge pressure, and showed the will, patience, teamwork and winning mentality to get the win and prove they are the best doubles team on the planet right now.”
With Clyne and Lobban’s World Champion status coming on the back of a first medal in 17 years for Scotland at the European Team Championships in May, excitement is building for a strong performance in Gold Coast in just over 18 months’ time.
THE NATION’S FAVOURITE TEAM…
Team Scotland is a term that embodies the pride of a nation, as we come together in the pursuit of sporting excellence. Never before have the people who drive and achieve success at all levels been brought together for a single night of celebration and recognition – until now…
MAKE IT A DATE…
Mark your diary and join us for the first ever Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards, celebrating all that’s great about Scottish sport. This is also your chance to be part of the first official celebrations of Scots on Team GB and Paralympics GB as they return from Rio!
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER…
Be there for our brand new star studded awards ceremony when we will recognise the stunning achievements of individuals, schools, clubs and teams across the whole of Scottish sport. A memorable night of inspiration and entertainment.
The action will build to a crescendo with the presentation of the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy, awarded to the best of the best – the 2016 Scottish Sportsperson of the year.
RECOGNISING SUCCESS…
Meet Scotland’s 2016 Olympians and Paralympians and enjoy a unique opportunity to hear first-hand about some of those spine tingling sporting moments that make our nation so proud.
NEXT STOP GOLD COAST…
Next stop for Team Scotland’s Commonwealth Games athletes will be Gold Coast 2018. Find out how we are building on the huge success of Glasgow 2014 and how you can get behind the team as we aim to have our best ever overseas Games.
DETAILS
When: Wednesday 28 September 2016
Where: Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC)
What:
The impressive, world-class facilities at EICC will host this special evening of sporting celebrations, drinks reception, dinner and entertainment
Meet and greet opportunities with Scottish athletes from Rio 2016
Mingle with some of the biggest names in Scottish sport and business
Late bar for those who want to continue the celebrations
THE AWARDS
Male Athlete of the Year
Female Athlete of the Year
Para-Sport Athlete of the Year
Young Athlete of the Year – Sir Peter Heatly Trophy
Team of the Year
Sporting Moment of the Year
Sport Governing Body of the Year
Coach of the Year
Community Sport Hub/Club/School of the Year
Sports Leader of the Year
Legacy 2014
Team Scot of the Year
Top award – the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy for the 2016 Scottish Sportsperson of the Year
YOUR HOSTS
Enjoy an insight into the Olympic Games in Rio from Scotland’s very own Shirley Robertson OBE, double Olympic sailing gold medallist and TV presenter
Be entertained and guided through the evening by the legendary Scottish comedian and presenter Fred MacAulay
TICKETS
Book now to ensure you are part of the most inclusive sporting dinner of the year – £1,100 for a table of 10 or £120 per ticket.
Early bird discounts available to Scottish Governing Bodies of sport until 30 June – contact us for details.
To book contact call us on 01786 466480 or email info@cgcs.org.uk
NOMINATIONS
Nominations are NOW OPEN for the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards!
If you’re inspired by a star athlete, motivated by a great leader or proud of a sports group in your community, we want to know. Click here to nominate someone today and tell us why they should be rewarded for their success and the hard work behind the scenes.
To mark the second anniversary of Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, commemorative medal plaques have been installed at Glasgow Life venues across the city.
The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games were the most successful Commonwealth Games for Team Scotland, with a record 53 medals picked up across eight venues, four of which are operated by Glasgow Life on behalf of Glasgow City Council.
To commemorate the 21 medals won in Glasgow Life venues, plaques have been installed at Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls & Tennis Centre, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, and the Emirates Arena & Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
Some of Team Scotland’s most memorable moments came at these venues including HannahMiley winning gold at Tollcross on the opening night of the Games, Neil Fachie and Craig McLean striking double gold in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Kirsty Gilmour becoming the firstScot to make a badminton singles final as she took silver at the Emirates Arena.
Today (Tuesday 2 August), Team Scotland member and double gold medal winner for Lawn Bowls at Glasgow 2014, Alex Marshall paid a visit to Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls and Tennis Centre to unveil the plaque which carries his own name.
Speaking at the venue, he said: “Winning a gold medal is obviously a huge personal achievement, but winning it in your home country makes it twice as special!
“I’m really chuffed Glasgow Life has commemorated the Team Scotland wins with these plaques – and hopefully they will encourage others in the city to take up sport.”
Councillor Archie Graham OBE, Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Team Scotland shone at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, setting a new record for the number of medals won by the team since the Games began.
“The fact that a large number of these medals were won in Glasgow Life venues is something of which we are hugely proud, and wanted to suitably commemorate.
“These plaques will not only celebrate the achievements of the medallists – they will also act as inspirational reminders of the highs of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, particularly for the next generation of athletes who participate in Glasgow Sport’s performance and pathways programmes.”
Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman, Paul Bush OBE, said: “Glasgow 2014 brought a nation together in support of Team Scotland and the athletes responded to the Glasgow crowds with a Scotland’s best performance ever at a Commonwealth Games.
“It’s fantastic to see Glasgow Life commemorating the achievements of our medal winners in this way so the success of Team Scotland athletes can continue to inspire future generations to participate, compete and set their aspirations high.”
With just over 600 days to go until the next Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia in 2018, Team Scotland has unveiled its exciting new brand mark, as it aims to build on the huge success of Glasgow 2014 and deliver the most medals ever won at an overseas Games.
Following an extensive tender process and athlete consultation, the new brand mark selected was developed by the acclaimed Edinburgh based design and branding agency, Brand Oath. The agency is a specialist in the international sports sector helping various global cities in their race to host major sports events, including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Other sports clients include British Rowing and Netball Scotland.
The new brand mark evolves from Team Scotland’s distinctive, well-loved thistle icon, giving it a modern, dynamic twist. The ‘jaggy’ leaves curl around from below to the embrace the thistle head and at second glance, the white space between the leaves and the thistle head reveal a star shape or sunburst – representing Scotland’s shining stars on the international sporting stage. The five points of the star, mirrored by the five diamonds accentuating the thistle head, is a visual representation of the Team’s brand personality traits: proud, united, ambitious, inspirational and inclusive.
Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman, Paul Bush OBE said: “The profile and awareness of Team Scotland reached new heights as a result of the team’s incredible success at our home Games in Glasgow exactly two years ago. The level of interest in our athletes’ ongoing success has been phenomenal and this is reflected by the significant reach and engagement across all our social media channels.
“Team Scotland is no longer a once every four year entity and we are repositioning our brand to reflect this. We are playing a key role across Scottish sport, championing the success of Scots on the international stage and helping to inspire youngsters across the country to follow in the footsteps of athletes like Charlie Flynn, Ross Murdoch, Euan Burton, Jennifer McIntosh and Colin Gregor.
“The new brand identity is no longer linked to one specific edition of the Games and heralds a new, modern era for the Commonwealth Games movement in Scotland. It provides a strong foundation from which to communicate in an engaging and inspiring fashion with our audiences, helping us to continue to build positive relationships with fans, athletes and stakeholders alike – a ‘365 days a year’ relevant and engaging brand. We believe it also creates added value for the organisation, providing a commercially attractive proposition to our key funding partners and sponsors.”
Brand Oath has gone on to create a framework of themed applications for use across the extensive range of collateral required, including Team Scotland kit and merchandise, campaign advertising and promotional materials. The brand mark will also be used as a portal to showcase the team’s celebrated iconic photography.
Delighted to see the brand mark unveiled, Brand Oath’s founder and creative director, Bernie Shaw-Binns said: “The brief set was an exciting challenge. National identity, particularly where sport is concerned, is a fascinating area of communication. It was important to capture a sense of place and personality that ‘we’ as athletes, fans and stakeholders recognise and are proud of. To avoid the visual clichés, but also deliver on what international audiences expect and perceive to be ‘Scottish’.
“We believe the trick is to embrace our national identifiers, to reinvent them with appropriate respect and restraint, balanced with vision and modernity. Working closely with Team Scotland we believe we have developed a fantastic brand framework that represents, engages and inspires the athletes, the fans and our stakeholders – a badge everyone can wear with pride.”
Former Scotland Rugby 7s captain, Colin Gregor who played in two Commonwealth Games and is Team Scotland’s athlete representative said: “Being selected to represent your country is an extremely special moment and wearing the Team Scotland badge with pride is one of the key elements that unites all the different sports together. The thistle icon has been a firm favourite with the athletes for many years and it is great to see how it has been reinvented with a modern twist that will keep it fresh and relevant, particularly across digital platforms.
“Putting the team’s five values at the heart of the new mark is really important and will bea great way to share these with future team members. The new range of colours are very vivid and striking too and will work well on our team clothing.”
The first public showcase for the new brand will be for the 2016 Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards which will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Wednesday 28 September, where the spotlight will be on the record number of Scots participating in Rio as part of Team GB and Paralympics GB as well as a host of other sporting achievements across the Scottish sporting landscape.
Table sales have been excellent, with sporting and corporate Scotland booking their places at the event to hear first-hand about some of those spine tingling sporting moments, created by our exceptionally talented athletes that make our nation so proud.
12 new awards will be presented, recognising the best of sport in Scotland, culminating in the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy, awarded to the 2016 Scottish Sportsperson of the year.
And next stop for Scotland’s Commonwealth Games athletes will be Gold Coast 2018. Team Scotland is launching its 2018 supporters’ campaign and guests will be invited to get behind the team as we aim to have our best overseas Games ever.
With only 150 seats left you are encouraged to book now to ensure your place at the sporting top table of the year: http://www.scottishsportsawards.scot/
Exactly one year from today, young athletes from 71 nations and territories will gather for the Opening Ceremony of the VIth Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau, Bahamas.
Set to be the largest international sporting event ever hosted in The Bahamas, and the largest-ever edition of the Youth Games, with up to 1300 athletes aged 14-18 set to compete for 94 medals across nine sports, Bahamas 2017 will be a first taste of international multi-sport competition for many young athletes.
Paul Bush OBE, Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland said:
“The Youth Games is a fabulous way for our young athletes to gain a real understanding of what the Commonwealth Games is all about from both a sporting and cultural perspective. Bahamas 2017 will be an inspiring opportunity for our athletes to experience their first taste of an international multi-sport Games, while mixing with athletes of their own age from across the globe. I look forward to seeing the next generation of sporting stars emerging a year from now.”
Louise Martin CBE, President, Commonwealth Games Federation said:
“Today marks an important moment in the journey towards the biggest sporting event The Bahamas has ever hosted. With one year to go, it is wonderful to see the Local Organising Committee making great strides towards their ultimate goal of delivering an inspiring and inclusive Youth Games for the young athletes of the Commonwealth. It will be a unique and empowering opportunity to celebrate and engage young people on the level playing field of sport, and we all look forward to experiencing Bahamas 2017 this time next year”.
Youth Team Scotland has a successful history with 145 medals won across the five Youth Games previously held. 66 athletes, including Glasgow 2014 gold medallists Charlie Flynn, Hannah Miley and Dan Keatings, progressing on to compete for Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Youth Games concept was created by Scotland as a development opportunity for young athletes with aspirations of competing at a future Commonwealth Games, with the inaugural Youth Games held in Edinburgh in 2000. In line with the Commonwealth Games Federation’s commitment to smaller cities and nations benefitting from hosting a major sporting event, Bahamas 2017 will be the second edition of the Youth Games to be held on a Small Island Developing State, following the hugely successful Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in September last year.
It will also be the first Commonwealth Games event to be held in the Caribbean for over 50 years, with Commonwealth athletes last participating in the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.
The Bahamas 2017 Opening Ceremony will take place on 18 July and will be followed by five days of competition across Athletics, Aquatics (Swimming), Beach Soccer, Boxing, Cycling (Road), Judo, Rugby Sevens, Tennis and (subject to final confirmation) Beach Volleyball. It will be the first time Judo, Beach Soccer and Beach Volleyball have been contested at a Commonwealth Youth Games.
In addition to the sporting action, the VIth Commonwealth Youth Games promises a rich, colourful and diverse cultural and Commonwealth celebration, inspired by the islands’ world-famous Junkanoo carnival parades, which acknowledge and recognise the Commonwealth diaspora and emancipation of former African slaves, in a vibrant musical celebration.
While Andy Murray and Gordon Reid were recording historic victories at Wimbledon, their fellow Scots were in action across a packed weekend of sport:
Athletics: Scottish athletes celebrated a superb showing at the European Championships led by medal winning performances from Eilidh Doyle and Steph Twell. Concentrating solely on the 4x400m relay, Eilidh, along with GB team mates Emily Diamond, Anyika Onuora and Seren Bundy-Davies, struck gold in a world leading time of 3.25.05. Her stunning 50.92 second split time bodes well for her Olympic chances over the 400m hurdles.
Steph Twell produced a fantastic finish to claim bronze in the 5000m, almost snatching silver on the line, to announce her arrival back to her best form after several years of injury. Fellow Scots Laura Whittle and Eilish McColgan were not far behind, both finishing in the top six. With Eilish and Steph already assured of a place in Rio, Laura’s 5th place will have done no harm to her chances of claiming the remaining Olympic berth.
There were also top ten finishes for Jake Wightman (1500m, 7th), Callum Hawkins (Half Marathon, 9th) and Chris Bennett (Hammer, 10th), while Shelby Watson took a bronze medal in the IPC Invitational T34 100m.
Across a fantastic weekend for Scottish athletes, Stef Reid added 31cm to her long jump best to claim the T44 world record with a leap of 5.78m. With bronze at the 2008 Paralympics and silver at London 2012, she is coming into form at just the right time for Rio. Nick Percy continued his incredible run of form, going out to 61.78m in the discus for his fourth Scottish record of 2016.
Rugby 7s: Scotland Women 7s put in a sterling performance at the Hungarian leg of the Rugby Europe Sevens Trophy to claim overall bronze. Following a second place finish in June in Prague, Scotland once again came through their group undefeated with wins over Norway, Czech Republic and Romania. A victory over the hosts in the quarter finals, followed by losses to Poland and Germany, gave the team a top four finish and secured the overall bronze.
Several of Scotland’s male players were in action for GB Royals and GB Lions at the Exeter Sevens, staking their claim for place on Team GB at Rio 2016. The Royals, including Jamie Farndale, captain of the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games side, and Glasgow 2014 player, Scott Riddell, lifted the Cup with an impressive 33-17 win over France. Four Scots; Mark Bennett, Lee Jones, Gavin Lowe and Mark Robertson, put in a great performance for GB Lions who won the Plate after a narrow loss to Russia in the quarter-finals. The 12 players who will play for Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympics will be announced on 19 July.
Triathlon: Commonwealth Games competitor Natalie Milne celebrated her recent selection for the World Universities Championships with a resounding victory in the Scottish National Sprint Championships at Monikie Country Park. George Goodwin took the win in the senior men’s event. Natalie will be joined at the World Universities by fellow Glasgow 2014 athlete Grant Sheldon and emerging talent Douglas Roberts.
Team Scotland partner CGI has announced their sponsorship of Glasgow 2014 finalist Meggan Dawson Farrell on her journey to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Meggan, a T54 wheelchair athlete, competed in the 1500m for Team Scotland in Glasgow and five days later won gold over the same distance at the Junior World Championships. A prolific record breaker, she holds Scottish records across an astounding range of distances from 100m to marathon.
As Meggan prepares for the next Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast she plans regular training trips to Switzerland for additional coaching support. CGI’s sponsorship will assist in financing this, as well as travel to the high level competition she needs.
“CGI’s support is such an honour and a huge help towards achieving my goals,” said Meggan. “It means I can travel to the right level of competition to qualify and prepare for Gold Coast 2018, with the aim of doing even better than in Glasgow. It’s so exciting to be chosen for this sponsorship, it will make such a massive difference.”
CGI, the official Systems Integration, BPS and IT Outsourcing partner of Team Scotland, Team England and Team Wales for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, has offered this sponsorship to Meggan as an extension of the support and commitment of CGI towards the teams and the athletes involved.
Welcoming the news, Jon Doig, Chief Executive, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “Meggan and other Team Scotland athletes are about hard work, close links to their communities and achievements on the world stage, characteristics that also embody CGI. We look forward to continuing to learn from and work with CGI to ensure continued success as we move towards Gold Coast 2018.”
CGI have also extended this sponsorship to Team England 2014 Commonwealth Decathlon silver medallist Ashley Bryant and rhythmic gymnast Laura Halford of Team Wales, who won three medals in Glasgow.
“Our support of these athletes and the respective teams is very exciting for everyone here at CGI in the UK.” said Tim Gregory, UK President, CGI.
“As an organisation we are committed to supporting professional development in our own areas of expertise and it has been great to extend this further into the sporting arena through this sponsorship. We encourage our own members to live healthy and active lifestyles through a number of initiatives and this sponsorship is an exciting way to bring this to life for our members”.
Activities such as blogs, webcasts and visits by athletes, coaches and nutritionists are helping CGI’s members develop awareness of the benefits of exercise and wellbeing. These activities tie into CGI’s existing global health and wellness programme – Oxygen, which provides a range of health-related services and resources to CGI members worldwide.
CGI also sponsors ten up and coming athletes through the charity SportsAid, with each being given a SportsAid Award of £1,000. The funding enables these athletes, across both disabled and able bodied sports, to overcome the number one barrier that they face – the cost of their sport. The investment helps them with essential training, travel and competition costs to ensure they have the backing and recognition they need to succeed.