With the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow now less than three years away, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is well on track with its operational planning for the team. Today CGS has circulated to member sports the General Selection Policy it will use, to select the athletes who will represent Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The policy, which has been produced following extensive consultation with the performance directors of the 17 sports on the Games programme, will be put before the CGS half-yearly meeting for ratification on 23 November 2011 and will come into play from 15 April 2013. This will be the earliest that the General Selection Policy has been in place, ensuring all athletes in Scotland with the aspiration and potential to compete in Glasgow 2014 know at the earliest possible time exactly what they must do to make the team.

Competing for Scotland at a Commonwealth Games is a highlight of any athlete’s career. Furthermore, the opportunity to compete in a home games is a privilege experienced by very few athletes.

Over the last three Games cycles, Team Scotland has had increasing success, largely as a result of a robust, clear, consistent selection policy and a strong Team Scotland ethos. This approach will continue, providing every opportunity to enhance individual performances and building 17 sports into one team. Each athlete selected will be assured of the support of their team mates in the knowledge that all have deserved the honour of representing Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Games.

Following a commitment made at the 2011 AGM, the two aims of the updated policy are to ensure that Scotland selects a team that performs with distinction in 2014, achieving its highest ever number of medals and highest number of gold medals, whilst maximising the opportunity of a home Games.

Amongst the key elements of the policy are:

• All individual sports on the 2014 programme will be represented by a minimum of three athletes, with the performance target of top eight or top two thirds of the field at recent Commonwealth Games, whichever is the tighter, being used as the benchmark.
• All host team sport places will be accepted to ensure Team Scotland representation in each sport in the Games, with the performance target of top eight in the Commonwealth. Where appropriate, non-accredited staff will be included as part of Team Scotland, to enhance the support service capability of the team.
• Consideration will be given to allow athletes to participate in additional events to those they qualify in, giving an opportunity to be inspired by a ‘Home Games’ environment.
• Sport specific selection standards will now be developed in conjunction with each sport’s governing body and will be published by 15 December 2012.

Endorsing the General Selection Policy, CGS Chief Executive Jon Doig said: “Following extensive consultation with sports, we believe we have managed to produce a policy that balances the need to perform with distinction, whilst maximising the opportunity of a home Games and ensuring consistency between the sports. This will be backed up by sport specific selection standards to be completed by the end of next year.

“This is the first milestone in our preparations for Glasgow 2014 and we are delighted that everything is well on track.”

A copy of the General Selection Policy is available from the downloads section on the left hand side of this page.