Thursday 21 December 2000
Scotland's Commonwealth Games Team is aiming for a record-breaking performance in 2002 after Bank of Scotland confirmed the biggest ever sponsorship deal in the team's 69-year history.
Bank of Scotland has pledged significant sponsorship worth over £200,000 to support the team representing Scotland at the 2002 Games in Manchester.
Bank of Scotland's support will help fund the team's preparation camps and training essential for such a major international championship and costs associated with getting a Scottish team to the Games.
Louise Martin, Chair of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland, comments: "It is a reflection of Bank of Scotland's genuine commitment to sport in Scotland that they have come on board as the Team's major sponsor for the second time.
"Manchester 2002 sees a rise in the number of sports from 14 to 17 including the re-introduction of judo which with eight medals was Scotland's most successful sport in the 1990 Games.
"We are also seeing the welcome re-introduction of disability sport into the Games with Scotland already having strong medal prospects in swimming and athletics.
"These changes, and the proximity of Manchester to 'home soil', means that with the support of Bank of Scotland we are aiming to have the strongest ever Scottish presence at a Games."
Gavin Masterton, Bank of Scotland's Treasurer and Managing Director, adds, "The Commonwealth Games is the largest multi-sport event in which Scotland competes as a nation in its own right, providing a unique platform for our athletes to perform.
"As the biggest corporate supporter of Scottish sporting events, Bank of Scotland recognises the importance of giving our athletes the best training and preparation in order to help them realise their full potential.
"Bank of Scotland is proud to sponsor Scotland's Commonwealth Games Team and demonstrate our support of Scotland's athletes to a worldwide audience at Manchester in 2002."
Amongst the athletes attending the announcement and clearly set to benefit were 1998 Commonwealth gold medallist Peter Nicol and up and coming stars from this year's inaugural Commonwealth Youth Games, swimmer Kirsty Balfour and gymnast Gayle Campbell.
Other Scots likely to be in competition for places in the Team include: Olympic sprint cycling silver medallists Chris Hoy and Craig MacLean; World Cup triathlon medallist Stephanie Forrester; European under-20 110m hurdles champion Chris Baillie; 1999 under-81kg World judo champion Graeme Randall and Olympic 50m freestyle finalist Alison Sheppard.
- Bank of Scotland were also the main sponsor of the Scottish Team who competed in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia.
- Bank of Scotland is the largest commercial sponsor of youth sport in Scotland and sponsors youth projects in athletics, badminton, curling, football, hockey and swimming - all of which are core sports in the Scottish Institute of Sport.
- The Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland (CGCS) is responsible for selecting and preparing the Team representing Scotland at the Games and is financed through sponsorship and fundraising activities, and grant support from sportscotland.
- The total cost of preparing and taking a team to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 is around £450,000.
- The Scottish Team won 3 gold, 2 silver and 7 bronze medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Scotland's judo players picked up one gold, three silver and four bronze at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland - the only time the sport has been included in the Games.
- Scotland has competed in every Games since the first British Empire Games in 1930 winning a total of 270 medals (65 gold, 79 silver, 126 bronze).
- 17 sports are taking part in Manchester : athletics; badminton; bowls; boxing; cycling; gymnastics; hockey; judo; netball; rugby 7s; shooting; squash; swimming; table tennis; triathlon; weightlifting; and wrestling. Scotland's participation in a number of team sports is subject to qualification.