As my second term as Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) draws to a close at the 2015 AGM (28 May) I am delighted to present our Quadrennial Report for 2011-2015 summarising the organisation’s activities and success during this historic period for Commonwealth Games sport in Scotland.
It is a privileged to have served as CGS Chairman since November 2007.
In particular, I am so proud of our Team Scotland athletes, who collectively inspired the nation over all 11 days of competition at Glasgow 2014; who gave us many moments to remember and treasure forever, and who delivered the best medal performance by any Scottish team at a Commonwealth Games. 53 medals was an extraordinary performance from an outstanding team.
The outstanding job done by our General Team Management and CGS staff team in the build-up to Glasgow 2014, joined by numerous committed volunteers at Games time and supported throughout by the 17 sports governing bodies and the high performance expertise of sportscotland and its institute network, ensured that the needs of the athletes were always the first priority. From team selections to the team camp, then the prep camp and finally at the Games Village, everything was geared to helping our athletes perform at their best. And perform they did!
The success of Glasgow 2014 was the culmination of 12 years of planning by CGS. It was just after the Manchester 2002 Games that CGS, in partnership with the Scottish Executive, decided that Scotland should launch a bid for the 2014 Games. We were awarded the 2014 Games on 9 November 2007 and, as the old saying goes, the rest is history…
And what a history has now been written about Glasgow 2014. All of us involved – and it has been a massive team effort over many years, can be rightly proud to have been part of delivering the best Commonwealth Games ever.
I would like to pay tribute to everyone involved with Glasgow 2014 – the Board, the workforce, contractors and, of course, the Clydesiders, for their hard work and commitment, which led to the delivery of such an incredible experience for the teams of the 71 nations and territories, as well as the spectators who filled the venues and made their own huge contribution to the success of the Games.
Building public support for the Games and for Team Scotland was vital and the 40 days of the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) in Scotland, hosted by CGS, visited all 32 local authorities, involving 4000 batonbearers and providing many opportunities to celebrate and promote sport. The incredible response to the QBR as it journeyed across Scotland gave us an early indication of what we could actually expect during the Games.
CGS also developed and maintained strong relationships with key partners, who were with us every step of the way, on the long Glasgow 2014 journey.
The Scottish Government has provided great support to CGS in the last 12 years, particularly in ensuring that Glasgow 2014 stayed true to our bid commitments and also to ensure that an ‘athlete centred Games’ was never allowed to become just a slogan.
Glasgow City Council, since we selected Glasgow as our host city, was fully committed to making Glasgow 2014 the success that it undoubtedly became.All closely involved in the planning knew that Glasgow 2014 would be a great event, but the way the city and its citizens took the Games to its heart was a big part of what made it the best ever.
Finally, I want to thank all of the CGS Board directors and advisers who have served during that time, and also our member sports for the support that I have received since 2007.
It has been a privilege, not just to serve as CGS Chairman, but to have had the good fortune to lead this great sporting family at such an exciting and successful time in our history.
I look forward to welcoming my successor and wish them and Commonwealth Games Scotland all the very best for the future.
Michael Cavanagh
Chairman
The next generation of Scottish swimmers are aiming to follow in the footsteps of their Glasgow 2014 heroes with the announcement of their selection for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games.
The Glasgow Games inspired a nation, with Team Scotland delivering a record haul of 53 medals, and Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) today announced the six swimmers chosen to take their first steps into Commonwealth competition by representing Youth Team Scotland in Samoa.
The fifth Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Samoa, 5-11 September 2015 and there is already compelling evidence of the successful role the Youth Games play in an athlete’s development.
To date 66 Scottish athletes have progressed from the youth to the senior Commonwealth Games with 16 going on to win a total of 26 medals for Scotland. Swimming has a particularly glowing past record with Glasgow 2014 medallists Hannah Miley and Robbie Renwick, along with Olympian Craig Benson, among Youth Games alumni.
Samoa bound Tain Bruce is no stranger to comparison with current Team Scotland stars. The 16 year old, who lives in Dalgety Bay and swims for Carneige, erased Hannah Miley’s Age Group 200m Individual Medley record at last summer’s Scottish Championships and has since added 100m and 200m Butterfly records on route to booking her place on Youth Team Scotland. She will compete in those three events in Samoa as well as the 400m IM.
“It is an honour to be selected for Samoa 2015”, said Tain. “It has always been a goal of mine to represent my country and I feel privileged to be able to make my debut in such a beautiful country. I love to travel and learn about new cultures so I can’t wait to experience Samoan life. I am always trying to gain experience in racing new people so these Games are the perfect opportunity for my long term development as an athlete.”
Carnegie club mate Craig McLean has set an incredible 48 Scottish and seven British records in the past three years, lifting numerous Scottish and British titles at Youth and Junior level. The 16 year old from Livingston returned from last year’s British Youth Championships with two Gold, a Silver and a Bronze in individual events, both of his victories achieved in British age group records. He won a further three medals in the relay events with his Carnegie team mates including 4x100m Medley Gold in Scottish record time. He is selected in the 100m Freestyle as well as the 100m and 200m Backstroke, all events in which he holds National records. Alongside his extraordinary success in Swimming he is also a black belt in Taekwondo.
“It is an honour to be selected for the Games, he said. “I am looking forward to the international racing experience as part of the Scottish team and hope this is a stepping stone to future success at this level.”
South Ayrshire’s Erin Robertson is selected in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke, events in which she has rewritten the record books. British age group record holder over the longer distance she holds almost every Scottish Age 15 record from 50m to 200m Breaststroke. Into 2015 there has been no let up and she is already the proud holder of the Scottish Age 16 record in 100m Breaststroke, set just 6 days after her 16th birthday in April. Following in her footsteps is younger sister Katie, at 13 years old a similarly prolific record breaker in the younger age groups.
“Being selected to represent Team Scotland in Samoa is a huge step forward in my swimming career,” said Erin. “I am so excited about it! This is the biggest event that I’ve been selected for so far, and competing on the other side of the world with a completely different climate will be a new experience. Being so far away from home will definitely give me an increased sense of responsibility, something which will be very important if I get the chance to compete at an event like this again in the future.”
East Kilbride’s Meg Finnon has already tasted international success with two medals at the 2013 International Children’s Games in Canada. She secured her selection standards at the Scottish Age Group Championships in April and the multiple Scottish Champion is set to compete over 400m and 800m Freestyle plus the 200m Butterfly. She will be joined in Samoa by her coach Andy Figgins who is the Swimming Team Manager for the Games.
“It means the world to me and I’m overjoyed”, she said of her selection to Youth Team Scotland. “I think it will help my sporting career massively by giving me more experience of competing in big competitions abroad. The preparation, build up and whole experience will be a massive stepping stone to competing in more major competitions around the world.”
For Stirling teenager Benedict Tortolano, Samoa 2015 will be his first foray into international swimming but he shouldn’t be phased by the competition after a head to head with Glasgow 2014 stars Ross Murdoch and Craig Benson in the top age group at the recent Scottish Age Group Championships in Aberdeen. The 17 year old came up against the duo in the 200m Breaststroke and rose to the occasion taking Bronze in a Youth Games qualifying time before going on to win Gold in the 100m event and Silver in the 50m, both inside the required standard.
Rating qualifying for the Youth Games as the highlight of his career so far he said; “I am honoured to represent Scotland. I’m looking forward to the experience of racing at an international event. It has given me the confidence to go forward in my swimming career and the determination swim faster.”
Benedict will be joined in the 200m Breaststroke by Stonehaven ASC swimmer Kieran Preston who finished close behind in 4th at the Scottish Age Group Championships. Kieran also finished 4th at the British Junior Championships.
Swimming events will take place at the Tuana’imato Sports Facility in Samoa’s capital Apia, purpose built for the 2007 Pacific Island Games and refurbished for the Youth Games.
Alan Lynn, National Coach for Scottish Swimming said: “Congratulations to the swimmers on their selection. As a first multi-sport Games experience, the Commonwealth Youth Games is a fantastic event to learn about the challenges of being part of something bigger than your sport.
“Several outstanding senior performers have used the Youth Games as a springboard to a successful career and I look forward to seeing this happen with this year’s group. Experiencing not only the competition, but the travel, the culture and the camaraderie of a Commonwealth event will serve them well and I wish them every success.”
Elinor Middlemiss, General Team Manager said: “I’m delighted to welcome such a strong squad of swimmers onto Youth Team Scotland. Several hold Scottish records and the times set by all six in the qualifying period were extremely impressive. I’m sure they will represent the team with distinction in Samoa and I look forward to watching their progress over the next few months.”
The Commonwealth Youth Games concept was developed by Scotland as a development opportunity to introduce athletes under the age of 18 to an international multi-sport Games. This experience helps to bridge the gap between young athletes competing in their own sport specific competitions and the testing experience of a first Commonwealth Games.
Following the announcement of Lawn Bowls athletes in March, Swimming is the second sport to complete its selection process for Samoa 2015. Further team announcements will be made later this month, with the final sports and full team being announced on 30 June 2015.
After an exciting eight years for Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) in the lead up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the organisation has been seeking experienced and enthusiastic individuals to lead the strategic direction of the organisation going forwards.
This is a dynamic and unique board structure with Board members working closely with CGS staff to achieve the objectives of the organisation and ultimately the success of Team Scotland on the international stage.
With Board members reaching the end of their tenure, CGS will be appointing for the positions of Chair, Vice Chair and two Ordinary Directors, with elections being be held at the CGS AGM on 28 May 2015.
In line with the Election By Law timescales the application process closed on 14 April 2015 and the following individuals have been nominated by a CGS member sports:
Name Position Nominated by
Paul Bush Chairman Scottish Athletics
Peter Nicolson Chairman Tennis Scotland
Maureen Campbell Vice Chair Scottish Swimming
Sandy Sutherland Vice Chair Basketball Scotland
Dougie Bryce Director Scottish Volleyball
Tom Chambers Director Triathlon Scotland
Susan Jackson Director Scottish Target Shooting
Jen Livingstone Director Scottish Gymnastics
Alasdair Maclennan Director Scottish Cycling
Leslie Roy Director Scottish Athletics
Niall Sturrock Director Scottish Hockey
Sandy Sutherland Director Basketball Scotland
Current Chairman, Michael Cavanagh, will be standing down at the AGM having completed the maximum two terms and said: “It is really encouraging to see such a strong set of applications for our Board positions going forward.
“Glasgow 2014 significantly raised the profile of the organisation and the team and there is now a real opportunity for the Board to build on this going forwards and ensure that our ‘home’ Games was the start of something fantastic for Scottish sport not the end. I would like to thank all the candidates and the member sports for their nominations.”
Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with CGI, the world’s 5th largest independent IT services company, for the next four years culminating in the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast, Australia.
CGI will be the official Systems Integration, BPS and IT Outsourcing partner of Team Scotland, and has also extended its sponsorship across Team England and Team Wales.
The Commonwealth Games is the only time when elite athletes in the UK get the opportunity to represent their home nation when competing at a major multi-sport, global event. The teams who travel to the Gold Coast, Australia in 2018 will be a unique blend of emerging talent and established stars, able-bodied and para-sport athletes. The combination of 17 different sports will deliver a broader audience than any single sports sponsorship property. In addition, the Home Nation teams competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa in 2015 and St Lucia in 2017 will include many stars of the future.
Tim Gregory, President of CGI UK said, “We are delighted to partner with Team Scotland during this exciting period. The Glasgow Games in 2014 were a huge success for all three Home Nations and we are very excited to work with them all as they begin their four year journey to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“When we started talking to the teams, we found that their values and commitment to developing talent were very closely aligned with those of CGI. We look forward to ‘travelling’ with them on their journey to the Gold Coast and bringing the Games to life for our clients and members. In the UK, CGI employs around 6000 professionals across Scotland, England, and Wales and our members, which is how we refer to our employees, are really excited about getting involved with their ‘national’ team.”
Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “At Team Scotland we have an ethos that puts our team members at the heart of everything we do and we believe this makes a significant contribution to our success on the international stage.
“We are delighted that CGI, which also has a parallel track record of commitment to its members, has come on board and pledged its support to Team Scotland at this early stage in our preparations for Gold Coast 2018.
“Team Scotland had its most successful ever Games in Glasgow last year, backed by huge public support and this new partnership with CGI, will help us build on this outstanding platform going forwards. We very much look forward to working with CGI and contributing to their exciting member engagement strategy, as we continue our drive for success in 2018 and beyond.”
In the build up to the Games in 2018, CGI is developing a comprehensive programme of activities where members can not only get involved by winning tickets to sporting events, but are also being encouraged and supported to adopt healthier lifestyles through activities such as blogs, webcasts and visits by athletes, coaches and nutritionists to help CGI’s members develop awareness of the benefits of exercise and wellbeing. These activities will 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.
Members will also have the opportunity to win a trip to the Commonwealth Games in 2018 through being nominated by their peers for demonstrating and embodying CGI’s core values of: partnership and quality; objectivity and integrity; entrepreneurship and sharing; respect; financial integrity and corporate social responsibility.
Saturday 11th April saw Scottish Archery begin their selection process for the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games, with a qualification shoot in Kilmarnock aimed at aiding selectors to find the young archers who will represent Youth Team Scotland.
In the boys’ event, top ranked junior Struan Caughey won, beating Scottish U18 Champion Aidan Hughes. Born in Elgin, Struan first tried archery at a ‘come and try’ event at Chatsworth Fair which led to him joining his local club. The 16 year old has gone from strength to strength ever since, now ranked second in the UK in his age group last year and representing Great Britain at the Seoul International Junior Festival in Korea.
The girls’ event was also a competitive affair with the top two archers boasting impressive résumés. The winner was Evelina D’Arcy, a consistent member of the Scottish Junior team for the past two years and winner of the 2014 Archery GB Talent Festival. Fife teenager Emma McLachlan, a past winner of the UK Junior Field Archery Championships, took second place.
The results of this shoot form one component of the archery selection process with archers submitting at least one score from outdoor competition this year and results from 2014 also being taken into account. There are two places available for Archery on Youth Team Scotland with the final date for submitting scores being May 17th.
Samoa 2015 will be the fifth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games and the first time Archery has been included. The sport has been contested twice in the Commonwealth Games – Brisbane 1982 and Delhi 2010.
We wish all archers the best of luck during the rest of the selection window and look forward to welcoming the successful athletes onto Youth Team Scotland.
Photo Credit: Scottish Archery
Scotland’s preparations are well underway for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games and they took another step forward recently, when Commonwealth Games Scotland Chief Executive, Jon Doig and General Team Manager for Youth Team Scotland, Elinor Middlemiss made a site visit to Games hosts Samoa.
The next major event for CGS since Team Scotland’s record breaking performance at Glasgow 2014, Samoa 2015 will represent the first step for the next generation of athletes aspiring to Commonwealth Games success. With athletes who have come through the Youth Games pathway to achieve success including the likes of Hannah Miley, Charlie Flynn and Jennifer McIntosh, there is compelling evidence that the experience stands young athletes in good stead into their senior career.
During Jon and Elinor’s short recce to the island they viewed the sports venues and accommodation, built relationships with organising committee representatives and local service providers and had the chance to see first-hand the preparations for the Games.
“It was an educational few days,” said Elinor. “We had a really friendly reception and it was a fantastic opportunity to meet the people we will be working alongside during the Games. Having the chance to view the venues and get a picture of how things will run in September, allows us to pass on invaluable information to the coaches for each sport to aid their preparations. Youth Team Scotland will go into the Games well prepared for their first taste of Commonwealth competition.”
With just less than five months until 1,000 athletes under the age of 18 and around 500 support staff from around the Commonwealth descend on Samoa, existing venues are currently being refurbished and the new squash venue is well on the way to completion. Many competition venues were used when Samoa hosted the 2007 South Pacific Games and Jon and Elinor returned happy with the standard that training and competition facilities will offer on completion.
“It has been great to see progress first-hand, although there is still a lot of work to be done by the local organising committee”, said Jon. “We look forward to returning in September for the Youth Games in Samoa which will certainly offer a uniquely different experience for all the athletes.
“The Youth Games are a fantastic development opportunity for our athletes with 66 to date progressing to senior Games since their inception in 2000. The Youth Games are about more than the medal count, they are a chance to give athletes experience of a multi-sport Games at a young age and learn about their peers from around the Commonwealth.”
The Commonwealth Youth Games concept was developed by Scotland as a development opportunity to introduce athletes under the age of 18 to an international multi-sport Games. This experience helps to bridge the gap between young athletes competing in their own sport specific competitions and the daunting experience of a first Commonwealth Games.
The fifth Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Samoa, 5-11 September 2015 and athletes on Youth Team Scotland will compete in eight sports: Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Lawn Bowls, Squash, Swimming, Tennis and Weightlifting. Lawn Bowls was the first sport to name their two athletes for Youth Team Scotland and further team announcements will be made in May and June.
Following the huge excitement of Glasgow 2014, which had the whole country cheering Team Scotland on to deliver a record medal haul of 53 medals, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is asking for the nation’s support once more.
Commonwealth day (9 March) was fittingly chosen by CGS to announce the first two lawn bowls athletes, Darren Weir (Prestwick) and Carla Banks (Inverurie) selected to represent Scotland at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games.
The Commonwealth Youth Games concept was developed by Scotland as a development opportunity to introduce athletes under the age of 18 to an international multi-sport Games. This experience helps to bridge the gap between young athletes competing in their own sport specific competitions and the daunting experience of a first Commonwealth Games.
The fifth Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Samoa, 5-11 September 2015 and there is already compelling evidence of the successful role the Youth Games play in an athlete’s development.
To date 66 Scottish athletes have progressed from the youth to the senior Commonwealth Games with 16 going on to win a total of 26 medals for Scotland. These include athlete Lynsey Sharp; swimmers Hannah Miley and Robbie Renwick; boxers Josh Taylor and Charlie Flynn; gymnasts Daniel Keatings and Adam Cox; shooter Jennifer McIntosh and badminton players Kirsty Gilmour and Imogen Bankier.
Lawn Bowls is the first sport to complete its selection process for Samoa 2015, following an exciting and closely fought selection series organised by Bowls Scotland and the Scottish Indoor Bowling Association. Over the last six weeks an unprecedented 124 young lawn bowlers across Scotland have battled it out for just two places.
Two weekends of preliminary matches led to 20 qualifiers (12 boys and 8 girls) playing in the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games Selection Finals in Glasgow on 1 March, where Darren Weir and Carla Banks emerged as winners and bagged their places on Youth Team Scotland.
16 year old Carla Banks who plays at Garioch Indoor Bowling Club and on the outdoor greens at Inverurie Bowling Club, will head to Samoa with a wealth of international experience having represented Scotland at both Under 17 and Under 25 level for the past three seasons. She held her nerve to close out an incredibly close final in the selection event, emerging as the winner 21-20, to book her place on Youth Team Scotland.
“Today means everything to me”, said Carla. “It’s the best thing that has happened so far in my life. I was really nervous going into each game but I gained more confidence with each one. They were all very close games and all could have gone either way, so I’m happy I managed to stick in and win. Going to Samoa will be an amazing opportunity, a tick off my bucket list.”
Prestwick’s Darren Weir also came through a close final to seal his place, and for the 15 year old, who plays at Prestwick Ambassador Indoor Bowling Club and Kincaidston & Belmont Bowling Club outdoors, the Youth Games comes right at the start of his international career. He heads to Ireland next month as part of the Scottish Young Bowlers Association Under 17 team for his first taste of international competition, experience which will stand him in good stead come September.
“This is by far my best achievement,” he said of his selection to Youth Team Scotland. “It was a very hard competition because the qualifying stage wasn’t easy, never mind getting to the final and finishing 21-19. But it was a great opportunity to get to Samoa, I feel very proud.”
In Samoa, Darren and Carla will each compete in Singles and then team up for a Mixed Pairs event. 2015 is the second time that Lawn Bowls has been included on the Commonwealth Youth Games programme, the first being in Bendigo, Australia in 2004 when Scotland won silver in both the Team competition and Mixed Pairs.
Elinor Middlemiss, Youth Team Scotland General Team Manager said: “The success of Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014 has sparked a huge wave of interest and enthusiasm across Scottish sport with young athletes all keen to follow in the footsteps of Charlie Flynn, Hannah Miley and Lynsey Sharp to name but a few.
“Lawn Bowls was a huge success in Glasgow with all five men winning gold and I have no doubt that Darren and Carla will be working hard over the next six months to do likewise. The battle they had to achieve selection will stand them in great stead for Samoa 2015.”
Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, said: “I’d like to offer my huge congratulations to Darren and Carla for making it into the Scotland team for the Commonwealth Youth Games. When better to celebrate this than the start of Legacy Week? There’s no greater honour than representing your country, and I’m sure they’ll both do Scotland proud. Lawn bowls was a massive success at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and with young bowlers like this coming through the ranks, the game clearly has a strong future.”
Delighted that the selection series has sparked such huge interest from youngsters in the sport, Alan McMillan, Bowls Scotland CEO, said: “We are satisfied we have left no stone unturned in our rigorous selection process to find the two best bowlers to represent Youth Team Scotland at this summer’s Samoa Commonwealth Youth Games.
“To have 124 of our most talented young players entering the selection process was an outstanding response. We congratulate Carla and Darren for showing great determination and stamina to win the selection finals and we are delighted to see them taking their places on Youth Team Scotland.
“I have no doubt that the multi-sport environment of Samoa will provide an unforgettable experience for them both and I am certain it will inspire them to strive towards competing for Team Scotland at Commonwealth Games in the future.”
Further team announcements will be made in May, with the final sports and full team being announced on 30 June 2015.
An exhibition celebrating Scotland’s relationship with the Commonwealth Games will be touring Scotland over the next 12 months, with the preview aptly opening on Commonwealth Day (9 March) in Irvine.
Drawn from the Commonwealth Games Scotland Archive held by the University of Stirling, ‘Hosts and Champions: Scotland in the Commonwealth Games’ celebrates over 80 years of participation and achievement by Scotland in the Games, from its origin as the British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930, through to Glasgow 2014.
The exhibition includes photographs, designs, clothing, papers and artefacts which evoke a rich story of Scotland’s involvement in the Games, including as hosts in 1970, 1986 and 2014.
Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “The Commonwealth Games Scotland Archive is a fantastic collection of artefacts which highlight how the Games have grown and Scotland’s involvement from the very beginning. We are delighted this touring exhibition will bring the archive to life and allow people across the country to share in what makes the Commonwealth Games so special.
“Given the huge enthusiasm and support for the Games across Scotland I am sure it will be extremely well received.”
Richard Haynes, Professor of Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling and academic curator of the exhibition, said: “We are delighted that North Ayrshire Council are the first to host our touring exhibition Hosts and Champions.
“Trinity Church in Irvine provides a wonderful venue for the touring exhibition, bringing together Scotland’s sporting heritage with an iconic building in the centre of the town.
“I’d like to thank the Scottish Government’s Legacy 2014 team for initiating and supporting the tour, and we hope local communities will enjoy and reminisce on some of Scotland’s great sporting achievements at the Games, as both hosts and champions!”
Hosts and Champions will be displayed in a number of local authority cultural venues across Scotland in 2015 and 2016, opening with a preview event at the Trinity Church in Irvine on Monday 9 March, Commonwealth Day.
The exhibition will be on display to the public from Friday 13 March until Friday 17 April, on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am – 5pm.
The Provost of North Ayrshire, Joan Sturgeon, will attend the preview event, along with representatives of Commonwealth Games Scotland with the Queen’s Baton. Margaret Burgess, Minister for Housing and Welfare and local MSP for Cunninghame South, will also speak at the event.
The exhibition, developed with the support of Commonwealth Games Scotland and Legacy 2014, is curated by the University of Stirling Archives.
Provisional Hosts and Champions touring programme 2015 – 2016:
Location Opening date Closing date Partners
Trinity Church, Irvine Mon 9 March – Fri 17 April 2015 North Ayrshire Council
Carnoustie Library Mon 20 April 2015- TBC Angus Council
University of Stirling Thu 23 July – w/c 7 Sept 2015 Macrobert
Dalkeith Library w/c 14 Sept – w/c 19 Oct 2015 Midlothian Council
Dumfries Museum Sat 31 Oct – Sat 5 Dec 2015 Dumfries & Galloway Council
Stranraer Museum Sat 23 Jan – Sat 27 Feb 2016 Dumfries & Galloway Council
Old Kirk Museum, Kirkintilloch w/c 7 March – Thu 21 Apr 2016 East Dunbartonshire Council
More information about the exhibition is available at: http://libguides.stir.ac.uk/projects/hostsandchamps and http://archives.wordpress.stir.ac.uk/2015/02/05/news-from-the-village/.
Durban, South Africa has formally submitted its bid host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, presenting their bid book to the Commonwealth Games Federation in London on Monday.
The City highlighted their “compact and unique” concept that will boost South Africa as well as the wider region and a tradit
ional African vibe was another central theme, with the Opening Ceremony scheduled to take place on Nelson Mandela ‘s birthday – July 18. .
Following the recent withdrawal of Edmonton, Canada last month, this leaves Durban as the only candidate city. So subject to its plans meeting the approval of the CGF Evaluation Commission, Chaired by Louise Martin CBE, and gaining the support of CGAs at the General Assembly in Auckland on 2 September, Durban looks set to ensure the Games will finally be hosted in Africa for the first time in the event’s 80 year history.
The bid, which has the full backing at all levels of the South African Government, has 80 per cent of proposed venues focused within a 2.5 kilometres radius of the Moses Mabhida Stadium, where both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as the athletics competition, would take place. Similar to Glasgow, the plan is to largely use existing facilities.
Also based on the Glasgow model will be the Athletes’ Village, a new development that would see buildings redeveloped into family housing post Games.
However a detailed study of the submission showed that two sports have changed from the Gold Coast 2018 programme with Basketball and Gymnastics dropped to be replaced by Judo, returning after what was a successful 2014 Games for Scotland, and Beach Volleyball making its debut at the Games. Also dropped are a number of optional sport disciplines, Track Cycling, Diving and Smallbore Shooting which have been cornerstones of the sports programme for many years, with regular Scottish participation and success.
Track Cycling has featured in every edition since 1934 and has proved extremely popular with spectators at recent Games, with many Commonwealth nations seen as the powerhouses of world track cycling. For Scotland recent success include Sir Chris Hoy who after making his major Games debut in 1998, gained his first international title with Gold at the 2002 Games in the Kilo andanother Gold four years later in Melbourne in the Team Sprint. Last year Neil Fachie and Craig MacLean won double Gold in Glasgow and rising star Katie Archibald took a Bronze.
Road Cycling and Mountain Biking remain on the proposed programme of events for Durban 2022, with mountain biking set to be the event furthest from the host city, 80 kilometres away in Pietermaritzburg on the course on which the 2013 World Championships were held.
At this stage with a maximum of 17 sports named, no plans appear to be listed for equally popular Gymnastics, first introduced in 1978 and included at every Games since 1990 with considerable success for Scotland in 2014 courtesy of the Men’s Team, Daniel Purvis and Daniel Keatings.
Also missing is Full-bore Shooting, a traditional event in the Commonwealth Games which has featured since its introduction in 1966. It is the only Games event in which men and women compete against each other or as mixed pairs and Scotland has seen medal success at the last two Games.
Also proposed is the introduction of Wheelchair Basketball, with no further detail of Para-Sport disciplines in Athletics, Swimming, Lawn Bowls or Powerlifting.
Commenting on the bid CGS Chairman Michael Cavanagh said: “We are delighted that Durban looks well placed to host the 2022 Games. Back in 2007 when Glasgow was bidding against Abuja, Nigeria we were very conscious that the Games had never been hosted in Africa and that it was rightly only a question of time before they would go there.
“There are many really good aspects of Durban’s bid. Every bidding city has choices and compromises to make. Having been a Games bidder and host we realise how difficult it is to decide the final programme. There are a lot of different factors from capital and future operating costs of any new venues, to delivering home team success, to ensuring the programme is attractive to a wide range of countries to compete at, along with national and international broadcast, sponsor and spectator appeal.
“However having seen the proposed programme we’re surprised and disappointed with some aspects of the sports programme for obvious reasons.
“We had our best ever medal haul in Gymnastics at Glasgow 2014 and are hopeful that Scottish Gymnastics will keep producing gymnasts inspired by those Games, who can win medals in the future.
“Equally, with the strong tradition we have in track cycling and now with a world-class velodrome in Glasgow where the Scottish Cycling programme is based, we have high hopes for medal success in that discipline at future Games.”
Jon Doig, Commonwealth Games Scotland Chief Executive added: “Over the next few months we will have discussions with our member sports and other Commonwealth Games Associations to assess the impact of Durban’s proposals.
“It is also important that the sports affected make representation through their international federations. They need to show just how much they value having their sports or disciplines in the Games. Their ability to influence the CGF and Durban is perhaps as great as any single CGA.”
The Commonwealth Games sport programme currently consists of 10 core sports – athletics, badminton, boxing, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, men’s rugby sevens, squash, swimming and weightlifting – with each host selecting up to seven others from a list of optional sports.
Following the completion of the quadrennial sports review by the CGF, potential changes to the programme will be considered at September’s General Assembly.
Click here to watch the video of the Durban 2022 bid submission featuring interviews with David Grevemberg, Commonwealth Games Federation Chief Executive; Filkile Mbalula, South African Minister for Sport and Recreation; James Nxumalo, the Mayor of Durban; and Cameron van der Burgh, Olympic gold medallist and world record holder for the 100m breaststroke.
Scotland’s preparations for participating in the fifth Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa later this year are well on track and following a recruitment process, team staff appointments have now been made.
The team will be led by General Team Manager, Elinor Middlemiss, supported by David Somerville as Assistant General Team Manager and Catherine Goodfellow HQ Admin.
The medical team will consist of Jonathan Hanson as Team Doctor, Oliver Davies as Lead Physiotherapist, supported by Team Physiotherapists Kelly Horne and Joni Neilson.
Gillian Cooke, who manages social media for Commonwealth Games Scotland has been appointed as Media Officer.
Following consultation with the governing bodies of the eight sports in which Scotland will be represented, the following sports specific team manager appointments have been made:
Archery – Claudine Jennings
Athletics – Mark Pollard
Boxing – Mike Keane and Ray Gibson
Lawn Bowls – Ricky Taylor
Squash – Stuart Crawford
Swimming – Andy Figgins
Tennis – Toby Smith
Weightlifting – Georgi Black.
One particularly exciting appointment is Georgi Black, who will be the weightlifting team manager/coach. Georgi competed in Glasgow 2014, is also involved in coaching and this will be her first staff role at a multi-sport Games. This appointment epitomises the core principle of the Commonwealth Youth Games, which is about giving athletes and staff exposure to a multi-sport Games.
Welcoming the staff to Youth Team Scotland, Elinor Middlemiss said: “The Commonwealth Youth Games is an excellent development opportunity not just for athletes, but also for staff with the relevant skills and experience to step up and take on first time roles or more senior positions in the multi-sport Games environment.
“I am delighted that we have finalised all of the staff appointments and I look forward to commencing our preparation programme and building a cohesive and well prepared staff team to support our athletes.”
All appointments are provisional and dependent on the actual number of athletes selected.