Key appointments announced for Commonwealth Games Manchester 2002

Wednesday 12 July 2000

Two years out from the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Scotland intends to be ahead of the game by putting strategic plans in place to give the team the best possible chance of success.

Today two key appointments are announced that will play a significant role in moving the team on to a more professional footing.

Paul Bush, Chief Executive of Scottish Swimming, has been appointed as General Team Manager for 2002 and brings a wealth of experience to the role.  Great Britain Swimming Team Manager at Olympic, World and European Championships and Commonwealth Games, he was also Chef de Mission for Britain at the European Youth Olympics in 1995.

Commenting on his new appointment Bush said, "I see this as a great personal honour and an immense professional challenge.  This is an exciting time for Scottish sport, which has undoubtedly benefited from the introduction of lottery funding for governing bodies and the support of the Scottish Institute of Sport. I hope that we can provide the appropriate professional support services for our coaches and athletes to achieve at the highest level.

"Manchester 2002 is very much a home Games and gives an exciting opportunity for Scotland as a nation to get behind its athletes.  However we must also look forward and plan for success in the longer term in Melbourne in 2006 and beyond."

Allan Alstead, recently retired as Chief Executive of sportscotland, has a new challenge in his life as Chef de Mission for the Scottish team.  Allan, well known in sporting circles throughout the country, brings many essential qualities to the position and will provide excellent support to the team.  In the build-up to the Games, Allan will be Chairman of the fundraising group.

Announcing the appointments, Louise Martin, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland, said, "I feel that we have the basis of a superb management team who will have a major task in Manchester, leading over 200 athletes competing in 17 sports.  We are pleased to have put our plans in place at such an early juncture and we are confident that this augurs well for the future."

Both Allan and Paul will be on hand at the forthcoming Millennium Commonwealth Youth Games in Edinburgh 10-14 August to support the Scottish team, many of whom it is hoped will go on to be selected for the 2002 Games.

• In a System 3 survey conducted in January 1999, the Commonwealth Games ranked top alongside the Olympics as the international event in which the Scottish public saw international success as important (83% saw it as being important as opposed to 77% for the Football World Cup of European Championships).
• Scotland has participated in every Commonwealth Games since their inception in 1930 during which time they have won 270 medals including 65 golds.
• Scotland's most successful tally was the 1986 Games in Edinburgh when Scotland won 33 medals.