Honouring our sporting heroes, inspiring our future champions
Friday 30 November 2001
At the Royal Museum in Edinburgh today, Olympic and Commonwealth gold medallist sprinter, Allan Wells MBE, joined the new Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mike Watson, MSP, to launch the search for Scotland's first 50 inductees into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame (SSHOF) which is being developed through a unique partnership between sportscotland and the National Museums of Scotland.
Sports Halls of Fame are an internationally recognised way of acknowledging past performers, promoting excellence in sport and instilling sport as a key part of a nation's culture. By providing a public record of Scotland's greatest sports men and women, the Hall aims to inspire younger generations and promote a culture of Scots recognising and celebrating Scottish success across a range of sports.
National Museums of Scotland and sportscotland jointly announced their plans to create the SSHOF and are encouraging the general public to get behind the project by nominating individuals for consideration. Already the SSHOF has received significant recognition, with confirmation that HRH Princess Royal and Formula One racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart have agreed to become Patrons of this prestigious new venture.
Mike Watson, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport said: "It is fitting that St Andrew's Day has been chosen to initiate the search for our nation's greatest sportsmen and women. The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. Many of our greatest sporting heroes have overcome many hurdles to reach the top of their field. Recognising and celebrating such successes is important to our sense of identity and pride and a source of inspiration to future generations."
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said: "For all the emotion and energy, the pride and the passion, there is no single place in Scotland we call our own that brings together and recognises the exploits of our great sporting heroes and heroines. The Scottish Sports Hall of Fame (SSHOF) will change that - it will honour Scotland's sporting heroes and inspire the nation's future champions."
To kick-start the public debate and nomination process, an exhibition sponsored by Shepherd and Wedderburn was opened at the Royal Museum profiling 100 of Scotland's all-time greatest sports men and women - all of whom are nominated for the SSHOF. This list of 100 individuals has been put together by the Hall's independent selection panel with the intention that members of the public consider these individuals and make further nominations as they see fit either by visiting the exhibition, through the official website or through Scotland on Sunday.
Opening the exhibition Sir Robert Smith said: "It gives me great pleasure to see the galleries of the Royal Museum honouring so many of Scotland's former champions who have given us some of the most glorious sporting moments in history. I hope all who visit this exhibition will nominate their favourite sporting hero or heroine for inclusion in the permanent Scottish Sports Hall of Fame and will leave with a feeling of real pride in their nation's sporting achievements."
Welcoming the SSHOF initiative Allan Wells said: "Winning an Olympic gold medal remains the highest accolade for any athlete and when I stood on that podium in 1980 I was immensely proud of my achievements, not just for myself but also for Scotland. Looking down this impressive list of 100 nominees it is clear that our country has much to shout about and the creation of a Scottish Sports Hall of Fame provides and excellent means of communicating our proud history and promoting future Scottish success."Paul Hally, Chief Executive of Shepherd & Wedderburn, said: "The Hall of Fame will inspire and motivate young Scots to be our future sporting heroes and to achieve their potential. We are delighted to be joining with other leading Scottish organisations in supporting this initiative to encourage young people to progress and accomplish their goals."
In July 2002 the panel will consider all nominations and confirm the first 50 inductees. The SSHOF inaugural induction ceremony will be held in Edinburgh on St Andrews' Day 2002, Saturday 30 November. Following the inaugural induction it is intended that there be an annual nomination process with further inductions when appropriate.
Subsequently, development of the permanent SSHOF exhibition will be as part of the World Player series of galleries within the redeveloped West Wing of the Royal Museum, due for completion in 2005.
- In tune with induction criteria applied to sports halls of fame around the world, nominees for induction into the SSHF must have normally retired from top-level participation in their sport for a minimum of five years. In addition, nominees must be either: a person born in Scotland; a person who, under the rules of the relevant governing body, was eligible to compete for Scotland or a person who has resided in Scotland during the major part of their sporting career.
- NMS will host a seven-month exhibition at the Royal Museum profiling 100 of Scotland's all-time sporting greats, from St Andrews' Day 2001 until 30 June 2002. This exhibition aims to raise awareness of the creation of the SSHOF and promote the public debate surrounding the first 50 inductees.
- The official SSHOF website: www.scottishsportshalloffame.co.uk was also launched today. Initially the website is designed to complement the exhibition of 100 all-time sporting greats at the Royal Museum. It will also provide a key channel for the public to make their nomination. Following the inaugural induction ceremony on St Andrews' Day 2002 the website will profile all inductees, whist continuing to provide a key channel for further public nominations.