Wednesday 8 October 2008
As Scotland’s athletes jet off to India for the Commonwealth Youth Games, sportscotland has raised the bar by announcing an investment of over £600,000 in the sport of athletics.
sportscotland has invested £652,648 in scottishathletics this year, supporting a wide range of programmes from coach education to national representation, including the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune later this month. Athletics will provide almost a quarter of the Scottish team for Pune with 10 talented athletes named in the squad, including two who boast impeccable athletics pedigrees. Eilish McColgan follows in Mum Liz’s illustrious footsteps whilst both of Lynsey Sharp’s parents have represented Scotland at previous Commonwealth Games.
Confirming the funding, sportscotland Chair Louise Martin CBE said: “Investment and support for our governing bodies is so important in helping to provide opportunities for Scotland’s athletes to achieve their sporting ambitions.
“It’s encouraging to see how many young athletes who have come through the scottishathletics system have met the rigorous selection standards set for Pune. I will be following their progress with great interest and wish them all the very best of luck.”
Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell added: “It’s great to see our young up and coming athletes getting the chance to represent their country at an international level. This funding will help ensure we can nurture that talent and see Scotland continue to flourish on the world stage.”
Support for coach development is another key element of the funding announced today. With a Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 on the horizon, creating a strong, sustainable network of qualified coaches is a priority for the sport. To provide an inspirational platform scottishathletics is hosting the European Athletics Coaches Association Conference in Glasgow next month. Due to be opened by the Sports Minister, the event will bring together some of world’s leading athletics exponents to Scotland to share their knowledge and expertise with coaches from across Europe.
Welcoming the investment, Geoff Wightman, Chief Executive of scottishathletics said: “Coach development in Scotland is vital in the countdown to 2012 and 2014. It looks as though the scottishathletics International Coaching Conference in conjunction with the European Athletics Coaches Association (EACA) Conference on the 1st and 2nd of November could be one of the largest gatherings of athletics coaches ever seen in Europe. Scotland will also be the first part of the UK to go live with the new UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) coach education courses at the turn of the year, which demonstrates that we are committed to offering the best continuous education that we can to our coaches at all levels.”
“The athlete and coach support system we put in place ahead of the final selections for the Commonwealth Youth Games have ensured that this is the best prepared Scottish team ever sent to a Youth Games. In 2014, the athletes selected for Pune will be in their prime; it is a superb opportunity for them to experience what it is like to compete in a major championships and this continued funding from sportscotland ensures such preparation and development can continue.”
- In 2007 sportscotland invested over £10 million in 54 sports governing bodies
- The £652,648 investment in scottishathletics Ltd is made up of £437,648 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund and £215,000 sportscotland funding from the Scottish Government.
- The ten athletes selected for Scotland’s Commonwealth Youth Games Team are:
- Lisa Glover (Glenrothes)
- Caitlyn Mackie (Airth)
- Eilish McColgan (Carnoustie)
- Myra Perkins (Falkirk)
- Beth Potter (Bearsden)
- Lynsey Sharp (Edinburgh)
- Daniel Carlin (Barrhead)
- Chris O’Hare (West Linton)
- Calum Innes (Bearsden)
- Callum Sharp, (Bishopbriggs)
- The Commonwealth Youth Games take place in Pune, India from 12 to 18 October 2008.
- The European Athletics Coaches Association Conference is at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow on 1 to 2 November 2008.