Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) announced today that Elinor Middlemiss, double Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in badminton, has been appointed as the organisation’s new Games Team Operations Manger. This appointment follows the departure of Vicky Strange, who joined the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee as Head of Sport Competition at the beginning of June.

Elinor brings a wealth of relevant experience to the role, as a former elite athlete, coach and now as an administrator, along with a great passion for the Games. She is a five times Scottish Commonwealth Games representative in Badminton (1986-2002), winning bronze medals in the women’s doubles in 1998 and in the team event in 2002. She also played in eight Uber Cups, eight European Team Championships and six World Championships and has the most international caps (136) and national titles (22) of any Scottish female badminton player. She is an advanced coach at equivalent of UKCC level 2 and has coached at World University Games and World University Championship level.

Elinor is currently working for sportscotland as Programme and Services Manager with the East of Scotland Institute of Sport, working with a number of potential Commonwealth Games athletes and their coaches and key support partners. She also brings experience as a customer services manager with a large financial institution dealing with operational/ project management and people management.

Elinor was in Delhi as one of the mentors on the Achieve 2014 programme and was appointed earlier this year as an Assistant General Team Manager for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games team.

Welcoming the appointment, Jon Doig CGS Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to have attracted someone of Elinor’s calibre and experience to this key role at Commonwealth Games Scotland. With Glasgow 2014 just over three years away, Elinor’s experience and understanding of the Scottish sporting landscape and the unique and important nature of the Commonwealth Games will be of huge benefit and enable her to hit the ground running. We look forward to welcoming her to the team.”

As Games Team Operations Manager, Elinor will support the Chief Executive and lead on the technical planning and preparation of Team Scotland for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, where she will be the General Team Manager.

Commenting on her new role Elinor Middlemiss said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Commonwealth Games Scotland at such an exciting time for Scottish sport. I was lucky enough to represent Team Scotland at five Commonwealth Games, including the last time it was on home soil in Edinburgh in 1986. Now to be part of the team again, putting plans in place to help our athletes realise their potential in Glasgow in 2014 is a fantastic opportunity and I am really looking forward to the challenge.”

Elinor will take up her new post at the end of July.