Everyone at Commonwealth Games Scotland would like to congratulate Elinor Middlemiss, who has been awarded an MBE for services to sport.

Scotland’s highest capped female Badminton player of all-time, Elinor represented Team Scotland at five Commonwealth Games winning a Women’s Doubles bronze medal with Sandra Watt in 1998 and Team bronze in 2002. 

She led Team Scotland to our best medal tally at a Games outside Scotland last year as Chef de Mission for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and has been appointed Chef for the 2026 Games.

She currently serves as Commonwealth Games Scotland’s Head of Games Operations and had previously served as Deputy Chef de Mission at both Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018.

When appointed to the Chef de Mission role for Birmingham 2022, she became the first woman in this post since the Games began in 1930, and the first former Commonwealth Games athlete to lead the Scottish team since Sir Peter Heatly in 1978.

Elinor said: “I am delighted to receive this title.

“It has been an honour to represent Scotland, both as an athlete and off the court.

“Everything at Commonwealth Games Scotland is a team effort, and this recognition is the result of the collective hard work of team-mates and colleagues down the years.”

We would also like to congratulate Bob Christie, Lead Coach for our all-conquering Para Lawn Bowls team for Birmingham 2022, and Stuart Hogg, who featured for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014, who have also both been awarded MBEs.