At the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in Auckland today (2 September), Louise Martin CBE, Past Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Vice-Chair of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee, was elected President of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Louise was the first woman to be appointed as the CGF’s Honorary Secretary a role she has held since 1999. She now steps up to the role of President, following a close contest with H.R.H. Tunku Imran of Malaysia, who has been President for the last four years.

Martin had campaigned on a manifesto for change entitled ‘Unlocking Our Potential’ which outlines how she will work collaboratively with all CGAs, International Federations, Organising Committees and other Commonwealth stakeholders to bring much needed change to the Movement.

Amongst a number of key pledges she will make it a priority to ensure that the best Commonwealth athletes want to compete in the Games, that they become strong advocates for the competition and that the CGF has a flagship event for which multiple countries want to bid.

A delighted Louise Martin said: “From my earliest days competing as an athlete to my time serving the CGF Executive board, the Commonwealth sporting family has had a profound effect on my life. I am extremely proud and humbled to be elected as President of the CGF and it is my chance to give something back to the movement that means so much to me.

“I believe that the time is right for a new style of leadership to ensure that together we can fully unlock our potential and deliver on the needs of CGAs and our wider partners, especially in terms of maximising commercial opportunities. If we get this right, we can deliver enhanced revenues to support every CGA as well as Commonwealth sports development through greater investment.

“There is also so much more we can do to grow the profile of our great sporting movement across the world to ensure that its unique identity is valued and our Games attract the best Commonwealth athletes, sponsors and, critically, future host cities.

“As someone with a proven track record of collaboration and delivery, as well as dedication and passion for the movement, I am proud to have been elected by the CGAs who have shown they believe I am the right person to guide the CGF through the next stage of its Commonwealth journey and unlock the immense potential of our unique sporting movement.”

Congratulating Louise on her appointment to the highest office in Commonwealth sport Paul Bush OBE, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “We are extremely proud that Louise has been elected as CGF President. Louise has worked tirelessly over many years to support the Commonwealth Games movement from both a Scottish and international perspective and at the heart of this has always been a commitment to ensuring that everything that is done is in the best interest of the athletes, something which we all witnessed last year in Glasgow.

“Scotland has always played an active role in the CGF and we are delighted that Louise will now have the opportunity to make an even greater impact on the development of the organisation and the Games as it seeks to address a number of key challenges for the future.”