With under 200 days to go until the 5th Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, Glasgow 2014 Badminton Silver medallist Kirsty Gilmour looks back at her own Youth Games experience.
For many Team Scotland athletes at Glasgow 2014 the first step on their Commonwealth journey was participation in the Youth Games and, since 2000 when Scotland created the concept of the Youth Games and hosted the inaugural event in Edinburgh, 66 participants have gone on to represent Team Scotland at a senior Games.
Kirsty’s path was a little unusual in that she had already experienced a Commonwealth Games at senior level, competing at Delhi 2010, before she was selected for the You
th Games in 2011. However, she feels that the experience was a valuable one and left her better prepared for medal success at Glasgow 2014.
“I kind of went about the Games in a weird way,” she says. “I’d already been to Delhi the year before so I went from a full Games to a Youth Games. It was maybe the other way round to how most people do it. I was relatively experienced internationally by the time I got to the Youth Games but, saying that, it’s prepared me so well for what I’ve done since then.
“My memories of the Youth Games are all really positive. It was such a great atmosphere to be in, we had quite a small team compared to what I’d experienced at other team events and I just remember everyone getting on really well. Obviously I came out of it with a medal so that was just a bonus for me. I was in the Isle of Man Youth Games so it was kind of a home crowd, the Home Nations really got behind me. I could hear English players’ mums and dads, friends and family in the crowd so it was a really good close knit experience.
“You’re in a buzzing atmosphere. Badminton is an individual sport and there are other teams and they’re a bit louder than individual sports. I just learned to take care of myself first and not get carried away with everything that’s happening. There are dinners and events and everything going on at night and there were mini cinemas and things that we had going on but, if it’s not what you normally do, don’t do it because it’s going to affect you the next day.
“In Glasgow I felt really prepared and it wasn’t so much of a shock. When you go into the main dining hall for the first time and go ‘look at all this food,’ I’d already experienced that and I knew not to go crazy on the buffet! I felt very prepared by the time Glasgow came round and I think that was a huge part of the way I performed there. I’ve had some other medal successes but nothing compares to the pressure of a Youth Games or Commonwealth Games, it’s something special.”
That feeling of preparation took Kirsty to a Silver medal in Glasgow, the first time a Scottish woman has ever made a Commonwealth Games Badminton Singles final. With a wealth of sporting experience behind her, despite still being only 21 years old, her advice to the next generation who will compete in Samoa is simple and at the heart of the ethos of the Youth Games – focus on performance but also take the opportunity to experience different cultures.
“First things first just focus on competing,” she says. “If you can do that you know you’re well capable of putting in a good performance. If your good performance is worthy of a medal then you’ll get it and you’ll deserve it. It’s such a fun experience but don’t be distracted by all the fun that’s going on, just get knuckled down into the performance and that’s the thing you’ll remember when you’re old and grey!
“Embrace the culture. You won’t do anything wrong and it’s just such a holistic experience if you get out of the village and see things. I’ve seen the inside of a lot of hotels, badminton halls and airports but very rarely do you get to go out and experience the country you’re in. I think the Commonwealth Games and Youth Games are one of those times you can really experience a country.
“There are a lot of hard parts to being an athlete but it all comes down to that one moment where either you win or you lose. You either jump as far as you can or you hit the line with the shuttle perfectly. It comes down to tiny miniscule little things. You know that you’re the best prepared and you’re absolutely dedicated and concentrated on this exact moment. Hopefully it will go your way, obviously there’s that element of luck, but all you can do is be as prepared as you possibly can.”
She hopes that the Glasgow Games provided inspiration for those who will represent Youth Team Scotland in Samoa but being one of those who inspired is something that is taking a little getting used to.
“It’s very weird being considered a role model. I just try to go about my everyday life, training and tournaments. Being asked to talk to young kids, it’s the least I can do if it means Scotland get one more medal at the next Games or it could make a difference. That feels pretty special.”
The 5th edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Samoa from 5-12 September 2015 with athletes from across the Commonwealth competing in nine sports: Archery; Athletics; Boxing; Lawn Bowls; Rugby 7s; Squash; Swimming; Tennis and Weightlifting. Scotland’s athletes will compete under the banner of Youth Team Scotland and selected athletes will be announced over the coming months.
Photo Credit: Rebecca Lee
Six months on from Team Scotland’s greatest ever performance at a Commonwealth Games we’ve had a chance to sit back, reflect and review. Whilst you plan for success, you learn that there’s never anything certain within sport and it’s just great that so many people rose to the occasion – athletes, staff, volunteers and everybody around Glasgow – to make it the fantastic Games it was.
The fact that everybody was so keen for Scotland and all the other nations to do well, I think that’s the great thing about the Games. People were supporting athletes fromall over the Commonwealth. The first day of the Rugby 7s stands out. To be so close against New Zealand and then to beat Canada was brilliant from a Scottish perspective, but in between people were supporting Sri Lanka and Uganda, all of the teams, it was just something really special. I also remember sitting in the SSE Hydro on the first morning and looking around at an absolutely full crowd, spectators and Clydesiders, all happy and smiling watching Rhythmic Gymnastics. I knew then that no matter what else happened, before we’d won any medals that it was going to be the best Games ever!
It had been 12 years from the concept, through the bid and to that moment of walking out as the last team at the Opening Ceremony. I was at the back of Team Scotland and just stopping, taking it all in, that wave of noise and emotion just hit you as you went into the stadium, it was a really special moment. We always knew we were going to have huge support, we knew that there were full crowds but until you step out into the stadium to that passionate home support, you don’t fully appreciate the level of it. You didn’t hear it, you just felt it – just me and five million of our closest friends to share it with!!
What I learned most was how the Games touched so many people in ways that I hadn’t counted on when we first started planning. I was thinking very directly in terms of how great it would be for Scottish athletes to be there and perform – thoughts that had crystallised from when we were in Manchester for what was very close to a Home Games, though not quite the same thing. What really hit me was how much the wider community engaged in the Games, right from the Queen’s Baton Relay with the selection of those 4,000 amazing people who are doing great things in their communities, the 15,000 volunteers, the committed organising committee and Council staff and our team staff. All playing their part with a huge smile on their faces. That was the bit that was like throwing a pebble into a pond – you just see these rings going out everywhere and you can’t actually control where they go and who they touch. So many people interpreted the Games in their own way and so it turned from what was solely a sporting event into a national project, a national occasion that delivered so many different things for so many different people, sport, art, culture, tourism, economic regeneration you name it. Everything and everyone came together.
The position of the Commonwealth Games is very special, certainly within Scotland. It has something undefinable and special as an event that people love because it’s real, it’s close, it’s serious but doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. Everyone here knows someone, who knows someone involved in the Games and I think what Glasgow did was to re-position the Games as that really important international event with its own style, much like Glasgow really. Yes it’s a pathway to other events, but even more so it’s a pinnacle event in its own right.
Commonwealth athletes and medallists are to be treasured and as the Scottish Government’s recent survey showed so many of our athletes made a real impact and have become household names. From Ross Murdoch and Erraid Davies in the pool to Lynsey Sharp on the track and boxer Charlie Flynn, along with judo’s Renicks sisters, so many of our athletes are proving a real inspiration. My hope would be that we have more people taking up a sport, or even just being encouraged to continue with the sport they’re doing. If you’re the only weightlifter in your school then that can be pretty tough and lonely but what the Games gave is affirmation that that is important, you can achieve across a wide range of sports and activities. The letters and emails after have been just brilliant saying we’ve changed people’s lives.
Six months on we’re now well into the preparations for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa and for the next generation who will have seen and felt the Glasgow Games, been in those stadiums or watched on TV, to have their chance come around so quickly is great. With that and preparations for Gold Coast 2018, including plans for a second site visit in March, we’re focussed and ready to go again.
We hope that all those people in Scotland who enjoyed following the exploits of Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014 will continue to support us and cheer on our amazing athletes as they prepare to travel to the other side of the Commonwealth and make us proud once more.
Sunday 18th January saw Bowls Scotland begin their selection process for the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games and 10 youngsters took one step closer to booking a place on Youth Team Scotland.
With a huge entry of 124 players aged 14-18, and the field split across eight venues, the standard was phenomenal. Players battled through group stages to reach regional knockout matches from which six boys and four girls now progress. Finals Day will be held on Sunday 1st March at Glasgow Indoor Bowls Club where these 10 qualifiers will be joined by those successful in the second qualifying opportunity being held on Saturday 24th January.
Garioch team-mates Carla Banks and Emily Gray thoroughly enjoyed their day as they both progressed from the Girls North 1 Qualifier held at Abbeyview Indoor Bowling Club, Dunfermline.
15 year old Carla said, “”I’m absolutely delighted to qualify, it’s a great achievement and I’m really looking forward to the finals in March. It will be a great experience and I hope I can pull through, but it’s going to be tough. This opportunity is absolutely amazing. Today certainly wasn’t easy, I just had to stick in.”
Emily, who is 16, added, “Qualifying today is just WOW, I can’t believe it. Coming here today I was hoping to win just one game and, if I had, I would have been unbelievably happy. I’ve enjoyed coming here and meeting new people. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Those going forward to Finals Day from the first qualifier are:
Boys Singles:
James McDougall (Garioch)
Lee McCormack (Stirling)
Liam Nicholson (Tweedbank)
Calum Darling (East Lothian)
Ross Kerr (Lanarkshire)
Darren Weir (Prestwick Ambassador)
Girls Singles:
Carla Banks (Garioch)
Emily Gray (Garioch)
Rebecca Houston (Prestwick Ambassador)
Carrie McLean (Auchinleck)
Samoa 2015 will be the second time Lawn Bowls has been included in the Commonwealth Youth Games. The other occasion was the Bendigo Games in 2004 where Scotland won Silver medals in both the Mixed Pairs and the Overall Team Competition.
We wish all players the best of luck in both the second qualifying event and finals and look forward to welcoming the successful players onto Youth Team Scotland.
Photo Credit: Rob Eyton-Jones
With just under eight months to go until the Commonwealth Youth Games open in Samoa on 5th September, all sports specific selection policies have now been completed and, only 12 days into the selection period, our young athletes are already rising to the challenge of booking a place on Youth Team Scotland.
Promising results for Squash at the Scottish Junior Open saw Scottish players lift both girls’ and boys’ U19 titles and there was an unprecedented response to the announcement of qualifying events for Lawn Bowls with 125 players registering to compete.
Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) has worked with the governing bodies of all eight individual sports on the Samoa 2015 programme to develop these policies, which detail procedures and standards specific to each sport. Alongside the criteria laid down in the General Selection Policy, published by CGS in October last year, the policies provide athletes and coaches with a full picture of exactly what is required to be nominated for selection.
Participation in the six team men’s and women’s Rugby 7s tournaments is by invitation and an unprecedented 19 countries have expressed an interest in competing. Entries will be confirmed by Samoa 2015 organisers at a later date.
Elinor Middlemiss, Games Team Operations Manager, said: “I am pleased to confirm that all the sports selection policies and standards have been finalised. With the selection window now open, athletes know exactly what they must do to be nominated for the team.
“We wish everyone the very best of luck with their training and competition over the coming months. A number of Team Scotland athletes in Glasgow had their first experience of Commonwealth competition at previous Youth Games and I’m sure athletes targeting Samoa 2015 will take inspiration from their success.”
The finalised selection policies and standards are available to download from the Youth Games section of this website or the website of the relevant sports governing bodies.
The following nine sports will be on the programme at Samoa 2015:
Archery
Athletics
Boxing
Lawn Bowls
Rugby 7s
Squash
Swimming
Tennis
Weightlifting
All nominations for selection will be made to CGS before 25 June with selected athletes for each sport announced by 30 June 2015.
Badminton player, Kirsty Gilmour is one of an elite band of 16 Scottish athletes who have used their participation in the Commonwealth Youth Games as the ideal springboard to success at senior level.
Kirsty, who won a bronze medal in the Women’s Singles at the last Youth Games in the Isle of Man in 2011, and followed up with a silver medal on the final day of competition in Glasgow last summer, is now looking to build on her Commonwealth Games pedigree as she heads into her 2015 campaign.
Scotland’s highest-ranked singles player has her sights firmly set on the start of the year-long Olympic qualifying race in May.
But first the 21-year-old is eager to get back into action after her Christmas break, starting with the Swedish Masters in Uppsala from January 15-18 when she defends her women’s singles title.
Gilmour, who is second seed in Sweden behind Spain’s Beatriz Corrales, starts with a tricky first-round test against Swiss rival Sabrina Jaquet.
They are 2-2 in head to heads with Gilmour, who is ranked 21 places higher at No.27 in the world, winning the most recent clash in November as Scotland qualified for the European Mixed Team Finals.
She said: “I’m excited to get started with this section of my season.
“Of course, my sights are set on Olympic qualifying beginning in May but I have a few events in the meantime.
“I’m especially focused on the Yonex Scottish Nationals in Perth at the end of this month and then the European Mixed Team Finals in Belgium from February 11-15.
“I will have some difficult games in Belgium that I hope to learn from and take into Olympic qualification.”
Gilmour is the highest ranked GB contender by far in women’s singles as she aims to follow up Susan Egelstaff’s achievement of being one of two Scotland players in the four-strong GB squad at London 2012.
Photo credit: Rebecca Lee
Commonwealth Games Scotland Chief Executive, Jon Doig, and Glasgow 2014 Judo Gold medallist, Euan Burton, have both been recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours for 2015 announced today. Jon is awarded an OBE following his work as Chef de Mission at Glasgow 2014, leading Team Scotland to its most successful Games ever. Glasgow was Jon’s fifth Commonwealth Games with Team Scotland and his second as Chef de Mission, having performed the same role at Delhi 2010.
Delighted to receive the honour, Jon Doig said: “When we started out on this journey 12 years ago Commonwealth Games Scotland had two key aims : – to host a Commonwealth Games that had a sport focused, athlete centred approach throughout and for Team Scotland to have its most successful Games ever, performing in front of a home crowd.
“Thanks to the support of Glasgow 2014, Organising Committee partners, sports governing bodies, sportscotland and of course the athletes and staff we were able to deliver on both these commitments. It was a magnificent team effort and I am extremely proud of what we achieved and that the role of CGS has been recognised in this way.”
Euan is awarded an MBE following a distinguished career that culminated in Gold in Glasgow and his role as Team Scotland flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony. A multiple World and European medallist, Euan announced his retirement from sport after the Games and is now focused on passing on his expertise as a development coach with Judo Scotland.
“It’s a brilliant way to end a good career and a great 2014,” the 35-year-old said.”
Several Team Scotland medallists from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have been included among more than 150 top athletes selected for a prestigious Winning Students scholarship.
The sports scholarships provide gifted young athletes studying in colleges and universities across Scotland with funding support and the flexibility to achieve their sporting and study goals.
Swimmer Ross Murdoch, who won Gold and Bronze in Glasgow, is one of 82 students past and present who competed at Glasgow 2014.
“The support from Winning Students has ensured I can balance my sport and my studies,” said the University of Stirling Sport & Exercise student. “With its support I was able to study part-time last semester which meant I could focus fully on the Commonwealth Games.
“A Swimming career won’t last forever and I need to prepare for my future once I hang up the goggles so that’s why I enjoy studying at the same time. I’m delighted to be selected as a Winning Students athlete and it’s a proud feeling to know so many talented athletes across Scotland are part of the programme.”
Badminton medallists Robert Blair (Open University in Scotland) and Kirsty Gilmour (University of the West of Scotland) and Boxing Bronze medallist Reece McFadden (New College Lanarkshire) are also named as Winning Students for 2014-15.
Murdoch joined 2013 European U23 1500m Bronze medallist Laura Muir and teenage Wrestling talent Brian Harper, at Denny High School in Falkirk to announce the Winning Students to gain support in 2014-2015.
The trio met hundreds of pupils at the Falkirk school and explained the effort and mental strength required to be a top student athlete. They also passed on their sporting know-how at a series of skills sessions for fifth year pupils. Muir, a Veterinary Medicine student at the University of Glasgow, led an athletics class whilst Harper, studying Sport & Leisure at Forth Valley College, highlighted the physical skills which saw him win the Bronze medal at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival aged just 16.
Recent research found graduates of the scholarships had lower levels of unemployment and higher salaries for their first full-time jobs.
Photo credit: Peter Devlin
Glasgow 2014, widely-praised as the best ever Commonwealth Games, will be delivered £25 million under budget, it was announced today. As the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee – the company created to deliver Scotland’s biggest ever sporting and cultural festival – enters its final stage of dissolution, its Chairman Lord Smith of Kelvin has confirmed that in delivering the Games within budget around £25m of previously committed public funds have not been required.
While a final budget position will not be confirmed formally until the Organising Committee’s closing accounts are completed early next year, Lord Smith said current indications were that the Glasgow 2014 would conclude its operations significantly within budget. The Games Partners acknowledged the overwhelming public support for the Games, a dynamic commercial programme, tight budgetary controls and effective cross organisational governance arrangements as all playing key roles in the successful financial outcome of the ambitious five-year delivery programme.
The Glasgow 2014 Games has been widely-praised for its delivery across a range of areas including:
Around £400m of Games contracts awarded – more than two-thirds to Scottish companies
More than £1 million of contracts awarded to social businesses
Setting a new benchmark for event sustainability management both for the Commonwealth
Games and for events in Scotland and being awarded the coveted ISO 20121 – the gold international standard in sustainable event management.
Selling 1.3 million tickets – including new world-record crowd of 171,000 for Rugby Sevens
Lord Smith of Kelvin KT, Chairman of Glasgow 2014, said: “From the outset, the focus of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee and our Games Partners has been delivering a world-class Games for the Commonwealth which would make the people of Glasgow and Scotland feel proud.
“Throughout the journey – and working closely with our Games Partners – the team at Glasgow 2014 has focused on achieving excellence and also value in everything we’ve done. It has also been very important to us that we have gone about our work in a responsible and sustainable way – ensuring that the Commonwealth Games experience has been accessible to as many people as possible, with the benefits of the Games felt widely.
“My thanks go to the thousands of individuals, communities, organisations and businesses across Glasgow, Scotland and the Commonwealth for their incredible support – as well as the ‘Home Team’ at the Organising Committee for their drive to make Glasgow 2014 a truly world-class but community-relevant celebration. It gives me considerable pride to now be able to say that Glasgow and Scotland have made Games history…. and have done so well within budget.”
Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland said: “Glasgow delivered the best Commonwealth Games ever, showcasing the city and Scotland to the world in a fantastic way. A tremendous amount of work went into delivering the Games and I am delighted to be able to announce that operations have concluded under budget. This is undoubtedly testament to the hard work of everyone involved, and from the competitors, to the volunteers and the spectators, I’d like to offer my utmost thanks to all those who contributed to making these the greatest Games ever.
“As well as having great aspirations for Scotland’s sporting stars, we had great ambitions for the event to be a catalyst for physical, economic and social regeneration. We have already announced that £6 million will go into Scotland’s first ever para-sports centre and £2 million will support our successful Legacy programme. The remaining funds will be invested back into Scotland’s health service. It is clear that the benefit of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be felt in Scotland for generations to come.”
Michael Cavanagh, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “Glasgow 2014 was an outstanding Commonwealth Games and provided the perfect platform for Team Scotland to have its most successful Games ever. It is extremely good news and testimony to the hard work and professionalism of the Organising Committee and all the partners that we were able to deliver the best Games ever, well within the agreed budget.
“Our focus now turns to the next two Youth Games in 2015 and 2017 and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. The success of our team at Glasgow 2014 has clearly highlighted the requirement for ongoing investment in Team Scotland, to ensure there is continuing medal success and wider legacy benefits from the Games.”
The focus for Commonwealth Games Scotland has now turned to the fifth Commonwealth Youth Games which will be held in Samoa 5-11 September 2015 and the General Selection Policy has now been published and is available to download here.
Samoa is a small island developing State in the Central Pacific with a population of just over 187,000. Sports and games are important aspects of island life and culture and they look forward to extending a very warm welcome to all athletes and visitors from across the Commonwealth
Nine sports will be contested at the Youth Games: Aquatics; Archery; Athletics; Boxing (Men); Lawn Bowls; Rugby 7s (Men and Women); Squash; Tennis and Weightlifting. The competitions held at two main precincts: the Apia Park Sports Complex and the Tuna’imato Sports Facilities.
Age ranges have been set for each sport in line with international sport federations’ youth age groups, which range from 13-18 years for the selected sports.
The total athlete number is set at 1000 and the Team Scotland size quota will be advised over the coming months.
Now the General Selection Policy has been agreed, work is underway with the respective Scottish governing bodies of sport on the Sport Specific Selection Standards, which are scheduled to be published by 15 December 2014. The selection period will then open on 1 January 2015.
Commonwealth Youth Games General Team Manager, Elinor Middlemiss said: “I am delighted to confirm that work is now underway to prepare to send a Scotland Youth Team to Samoa next September. CGS has indicated its intention to participate in all sports, however our acceptance in Rugby 7s is yet to be confirmed in both six team tournaments.
“I look forward to working with the governing bodies over the next few weeks to get the Sports Specific Selection Standards in place prior to Christmas, with staff recruitment starting in January.”
Key dates:
Selection period will run from 1 January to 17 May 2015
Staff recruitment will take place 15 January to 15 March 2015
Team announcement first week in June 2015
Opening Ceremony 5th September
Competition will run 7th to 11th September
Cultural Day – 12th September – integral part of a Youth Games.
Communities, families and thousands of individuals across Glasgow, Scotland and beyond are continuing to benefit from the assets and investments of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in a diverse range of ways.
From infrastructural investment in venues, the gift of world-class sports equipment for schools, to essential medical kit helping transform the lives of mums and their children in Africa, Glasgow 2014’s assets will go on helping to inspire and transform lives long after
Scotland’s biggest-ever sporting and cultural festival, widely credited as the Commonwealth’s best-ever Games.
Young people in Glasgow’s East End now have the fun of playing with games consoles, pool tables and board games used by top Commonwealth athletes in the Athletes’ Village through donations made to organisations including Active East, the Scottish Refugee Council youth club and the Dalmarnock Hub.
Even spare clyde-sider uniforms have not gone to waste, with surplus items of the distinctive red and grey ensemble distributed through a number of charities including Waste to Wonder which has taken the clyde-sider kit to Sierra Leone and Mary’s Meals which has distributed items in Malawi.
Glasgow 2014’s active distribution of assets and long-term investments also includes:
Around £1million of infrastructural and technology investments across a range of Glasgow venues including roof works at Tollcross International Swimming Centre, lighting at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and electrical upgrades at Kelvin Hall
All the beds and furniture from the Athletes Village to be made available to current and new Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) residents, other social housing tenants, communities and charities thanks to a donation by the Organising Committee and Ramler, Glasgow 2014’s Official Furniture Supplier
Up to £550,000 of sports equipment used in training and competition to remain in Scotland through a partnership with SportScotland plus Active Schools across every local authority area to receive small items such as balls, bibs and stop watches.
An additional £100,000 of sports equipment including judo mats, swimming lane ropes and a boxing training ring gifted to Glasgow Life through the AG Barr Trust, the charitable arm of Games Sponsor, AG Barr.
Bedding items from the Athletes village including 6500 duvets and 5000 pillows donated to a range of organisations including the Scottish Refugee Council, Salvation Army, Girl Guides and Boys Brigade, many of whom provide ‘starter packs’ for individuals, families or support services for the homeless
£10,000 of essential medical equipment including stethoscopes, blood pressure monitors and thermometers gifted by Games organisers to a Scottish-based charity which provides free maternity care and surgery to help African women injured in childbirth.
David Grevemberg, Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive said:“People have always been at the heart of the story of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, so it’s absolutely appropriate that our assets should still be having a positive impact on communities and individuals, not just in Glasgow or Scotland but in other parts of the Commonwealth.
“I hope Glasgow 2014 continues to enhance lives and inspire for many years to come.”
Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said:“It’s fantastic to see such a wide and diverse range of people and communities in Glasgow, Scotland and internationally continuing to experience the benefits of Glasgow 2014 in a real and practical way.
“Amongst the many beneficiaries, it is particularly pleasing to think that so many children and young people across Scotland can enjoy emulating their Team Scotland heroes, using the same sports equipment that was used by the elite athletes of the Commonwealth.”