Today, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) announced the 44 athletes who have been selected to represent Scotland at the third Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India 11-18 October 2008.

Pune 2008 is the first Youth Games to which all 71 Commonwealth countries have been invited to take part with 351 medals to be won across nine sports (athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling). Scotland will compete in eight out of nine sports (not tennis).

As a result of the global expansion of the Games, each country has been allocated a fixed number of places and qualification standards were set accordingly. In a number of sports more athletes met the standards than there were places available.

Based on previous Youth Games results, it is anticipated that many of the Scottish athletes, all of whom are under 18 years of age, who compete and win medals in Pune will go on to compete for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow 2014 and for Team GB in London 2012 when they should be at their competitive peak.

Amongst the team members announced today are some familiar names with strong links to Commonwealth Games success. The McColgan dynasty lives on, with daughter Eilish qualified for the 1500m, whilst Lynsey Sharp, daughter of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Cameron and representative Carol Sharp will compete in the 800m. In smallbore shooting, Jennifer McIntosh is the daughter of multiple Commonwealth Games medallist Shirley and father Donald a representative in two Games.

Making the team announcement today, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of CGS said: “Many congratulations to the 44 athletes named today. l am confident that we have selected an outstanding Youth Games Team to compete in Pune, with the standards continuing to rise with every Games cycle.

“Whilst winning medals is important, the major benefit of the Commonwealth Youth Games is exposing young athletes to this level of competition in a multi-sport environment. It is the ideal preparation event for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow in 2014.”

Congratulating the team, Stewart Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport said: “As they fly the flag for Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India, these young athletes carry the hopes and good wishes of a nation.
“Getting this far, they have each demonstrated outstanding effort, and dedication in pursuit of personal excellence.
“The Commonwealth Youth Games will provide competition experience and, hopefully, a stepping stone for our young stars as they eye the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010, and on home soil, in Glasgow in 2014.
“This Government has great ambitions for sport in Scotland. That’s why, through sportscotland, we are investing millions to increase participation and nurture the sporting stars of tomorrow.”
Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland said: “This is a marvellous development opportunity for these young people to gain experience competing at a large global multi-sport event at an early age. It is fantastic to see the length and breadth of Scotland represented from Troon to Aberdeen to The Isle of Islay. I am sure their experience at the Youth Games will inspire many of them to go on to compete successfully in future senior Commonwealth and Olympic Games.”

Previous Youth Games medallists, swimmers Kirsty Balfour, Todd Cooper, Andrew Hunter, Robbie Renwick, Hannah Miley and gymnast Daniel Keatings, were amongst 12 Youth Games athletes who went on to compete and win medals in Melbourne in 2006 and this summer were selected for Team GB at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

The team is being supported by Clydesdale Bank and adding their congratulations Steve Reid, Retail Director of Clydesdale Bank said: “We recognise the dedication and commitment of these athletes and their significant achievement in being selected. We are proud to support the team in their endeavours and everyone at Clydesdale Bank wishes them all the best for October’s games.”

COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES, PUNE 2008 – SELECTED ATHLETES

Athletics (10)
Lisa Glover, Glenrothes
Caitlyn Mackie, Airth
Eilish McColgan, Carnoustie
* Myra Perkins, Falkirk
Beth Potter, Bearsden, Glasgow, WSIS
Lynsey Sharp, Edinburgh, TFIS

Daniel Carlin, Barrhead
*Chris O’Hare, West Linton
Calum Innes, Bearsden, Glasgow
Callum Sharp, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow

Badminton (4)
Martin Campbell, Edinburgh, ESIS
Angus Gilmour, Troon, WSIS
Craig Pollock, Longniddry, ESIS
Paul Van Rietvelde, Longniddry, ESIS

Boxing (6)
Sean Finney, Kirkcaldy
Steven McAllister, Aberdeen
Robert McKee, Fauldhouse
* Jonathan Slowey, Glasgow, WSIS
Ryan Smith, Glasgow
Josh Taylor, Prestonpans

Shooting (5)
Kay Copland, Banff
Catriona McGregor, Aberdeen, GIS
Jennifer McIntosh, Falkirk, CSIS
* Rory McAlpine, Lasswade, Midlothian, ESIS
Ben Wilson, Islay, WSIS

Swimming (10)
Lucy Ellis, Dalgety Bay, ESIS
Sara Hamilton, Stonehaven
Megan Gilchrist, Bathgate, SIS
Robyn Mathews, Edinburgh, ESIS
*Sally Wood, Edinburgh, ESIS
* Ewan Johnstone, Edinburgh
Andrew Haslett, Edinburgh, SIS
Iain Scanlon, Shotts, ESIS
Daniel Scott, Glenrothes, SIS
Douglas Scott, Strathaven,WSIS

Table Tennis (2)
* Craig Howieson, Edinburgh
* Craig Hardie, Glasgow

Weightlifting (3)
Amy Hamilton, Glasgow
James Burley, Kilwinning
* Dylan Scott, Kilwinning

Wrestling (4)
*Gareth Jones, Old Kilpatrick
*Keiran Malone, Cumbernauld
*Craig McKenna, Clydebank
* Connor Evans, Denny

* In attendance at the announcement

Athletes supported by: Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS), West of Scotland Institute of Sport (WSIS), Central Scotland Institute of Sport (CSIS), East of Scotland Institute of Sport, Grampian Institute of Sport (GIS), Tayside and Fife Institute of Sport.

Staff (16)
Lisa Allan (Loanhead), General Team Manager
Leslie Roy (Glasgow), Assistant General Team Manager
Brent Deans (Edinburgh), Assistant Team Manager
Dr Alastair Nicol (Dundee), Doctor
Lindsay Thomson (East Linton), Physiotherapist
Stephen Mutch (Edinburgh), Physiotherapist
Rob Eyton-Jones (Edinburgh), Press Officer
Hugh Murray (Helensburgh), Athletics Team Leader
Diana Koleva (Glasgow), Badminton Team Leader
David McAllister, (Aberdeen), Boxing Team Leader
Kevin Smith (Liverpool), Boxing Team Coach
Sinclair Bruce, (Linlithgow), Shooting Team Leader
Ian Wright, (Edinburgh), Swimming Team Leader
Peter Stewart, (East Kilbride), Table Tennis Team Leader
Frank Etherson, (Glasgow), Weightlifting Team Leader
Volodymyr Gladkow, (Glasgow), Wrestling Team Leader