Commonwealth Games education programme hits schools across Scotland

Thursday 24 January 2002

Scottish Swimming have announced the appointment of a National Youth Coach, funded by the sportscotland Lottery Fund in recognition of the vital role a youth coach plays in producing sports stars of the future. An award of over £200,000 over four years has enabled Scottish Swimming to appoint former City of Aberdeen Swim Team (COAST) coach Alastair Johnson to take up the role at the purpose built National Swimming Academy in Stirling which will be officially opened next week.

 "One of the priorities for the sportscotland Lottery Fund is to support and foster sporting excellence..."

The appointment is a vital part of the governing body's long term plan to produce international swimming stars. Alastair will work alongside the National Coach, Chris Martin, at the Academy maximising the state of the art facility during a period when Scottish swimming is going from strength to strength. Graeme Smith won a silver and bronze at the World Championships in Japan last year, Alison Sheppard came fourth in the 50m freestyle at the Sydney Olympics, Scots are being consistently picked to represent Great Britain at international level and over 190 Scottish swimming records have been broken over the last 18 months. The Youth Coach remit is to work towards creating a squad every bit as ambitious and successful as the seniors currently training for this summer's Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Alastair brings a wealth of experience to the post, as head coach of one of the most successful swim clubs in the country he has helped COAST become the top team at Scotland's National Age Groups in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 and Speedo League Champions in 1999 and 2001. The team currently have seven swimmers in Scottish National Squads and have placed ten swimmers in the National Team since 1997, including one swimmer at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

"I am continually trying to improve the training, coaching and racing environment of my swimmers," said Alastair. "World-class performances in sport are underpinned by a network of support staff working with athletes, helping them to achieve their best and creating pathways for talented young athletes to advance through the ranks to international competition. I look forward to playing my part in this process."

Paul Bush, Chief Executive of Scottish Swimming said: "The appointment of Alastair as National Youth Coach is one of the final pieces in our sport's strategy for achieving sustained international success. It follows the opening of the National Swimming Academy and puts at our new home a talented coach dedicated to creating our future Olympic performers."

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said: "One of the priorities for the sportscotland Lottery Fund is to support and foster sporting excellence. An increasing pool of skilled coaches is essential at all levels to develop potential and improve standards. "World class achievements in sport start with a vision of success and are achieved through establishing clear goals and rigorous planning. The appointment of a National Youth Coach at the National Swimming Academy reflects this commitment by both sportscotland and Scottish Swimming and should ensure that Scotland continues to produce swimming champions in both the short and the long term."

• An award of £227,472 over four years was made to Scottish Swimming from the sportscotland Lottery Fund National Coach Support programme.
• The National Coach Support programme provides financial support to a limited number of recognised governing bodies of sport for the employment of full-time national coaches to develop and improve elite performance. The primary objective is to attain greater success in international competition.
• Eligible applicants are national governing bodies of sport, which sportscotland recognises as the sole body for their activity in Scotland. The governing bodies must also have long-term development and performance plans which sportscotland endorses.
• The award covers the full cost of employing a national coach and programme and development costs.