Thursday 16 October 2008
sportscotland today announced another investment of over half a million pounds into Scottish sport. Two sports with athletes competing in the Commonwealth Youth Games this week were the recipients, with BADMINTONScotland receiving £426,685 and Table Tennis Scotland awarded £114,255.
Speaking from the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, Louise Martin CBE, Chair, sportscotland said; “The Commonwealth Youth Games provide a great development opportunity for our young athletes and give them invaluable experience for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow four years later. It seems entirely fitting that we are announcing this investment for two Commonwealth sports today to support their development towards those landmark events and beyond.
“It has been a real privilege watching our young athletes competing here in Pune and I look forward to seeing how their careers develop, supported by our investment in Scottish sport.”
Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell, who is also supporting the team in Pune, added: “I am proud to be able to see our young athletes perform so well in Pune. This funding will make sure we have the correct infrastructure in place to ensure they continue to flourish and to encourage more young people to participate in these fun sporting activities.”
A key focus for the investment in BADMINTONScotland is to strengthen the player pathways and provide support for coaches to ensure that young players are given every opportunity to realise their potential. Four of Scotland’s rising badminton stars who have come through the system are currently in action at the Commonwealth Youth Games. Martin Campbell, Angus Gilmour, Craig Pollock and Paul van Rietvelde have all tasted success at UK level but the international experience gained in Pune will prove invaluable as they develop.
One player who will benefit directly both from the sportscotland investment and Scottish Institute of Sport support is double Commonwealth bronze medallist Susan Hughes. Susan, who has played an important part in raising the profile of Scottish badminton on the world stage, has experienced her best ever start to a season reaching two European Finals and one semi-final in the first three European events on the tournament circuit. Doubles specialist Andrew Bowman is also adding to the Scottish badminton feel-good factor as he recently took the Belgian International title, his second major tournament win.
Anne Smillie, Chief Executive of BADMINTONScotland welcomed the investment: “BADMINTONscotland is delighted with sportscotland’s investment in our efforts to continuously improve our player pathway in Scotland. It will enable BADMINTONscotland to carry through its Strategic Plan which focuses on increasing participation and improving coach education, whilst also nurturing the talent of those who show the potential to perform on the international stage.”
Table Tennis will also benefit from today’s funding announcement. Investment in the sport, which is a core sport for the Commonwealth Games, will assist Table Tennis Scotland as they put in place their development structures to ensure that Scotland is well-represented at the Games in Delhi in 2010 and on home soil in Glasgow in 2014.
The funding will support two new positions within the organisation, National Development Manager and Performance Coach. Their remit will be to identify and develop Scottish talent and will work with young athletes including Craig Howieson and Craig Hardie who represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games this week.
- In 2007 sportscotland invested over £10 million in 54 sports governing bodies
- The £426,685 investment in the BadmintonScotland is made up of £221,785 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund and £204,900 from Scottish Government sportscotland funding.
- The £114,255 investment in Table Tennis Scotland is made up of £61,255 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund and £53,000 from Scottish Government sportscotland funding.
- The four badminton players competing in the Commonwealth Youth Games Team are:
o Martin Campbell (Edinburgh)
o Angus Gilmour (Troon)
o Craig Pollock (Longniddry)
o Paul Van Rietvelde (Longniddry)
- The two table tennis players selected for the Commonwealth Youth Games Team are:
o Craig Howieson (Edinburgh)
o Craig Hardie (Glasgow)
- The World Junior Badminton Championships will take place in Pune, India from 23 October to 2 November 2008.
- The Scottish Institute of Sport is the high performance arm of sportscotland.