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Commonwealth athletes face up to Tartan army

Tuesday 16 April 2002

With only 100 days to go until the start of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, cycling's Olympic silver medallist, Chris Hoy and Commonwealth Games boxing bronze medallist, Colin McNeil today came face to face with the Bank of Scotland Scottish Team mascots who will be seen cheering on our athletes at the Games this summer. No less than 100 Super Squirrels, dressed in traditional tartan regalia gathered at Bank of Scotland, St Andrews Square in Edinburgh, preparing to march on Manchester.

George Mitchell, Treasurer & Managing Director of Bank of Scotland, said, "Bank of Scotland is delighted that Super Squirrel, our youth account mascot, is leading the team to Manchester. Super Squirrel will be supporting the squad as they spend the next few months training for the games - assisted by the Bank's sponsorship which goes directly towards team preparation. Hopefully medals will follow and we wish those who are ultimately selected every success."

"It is great to know that there is such a strong support team behind all the athletes."

Super Squirrel will be supporting the official team tartan - specially designed and manufactured at Heather Mills - part of The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group. Edinburgh Woollen Mill has supplied the uniforms for the team over the past twenty years.

Philip Day, Chief Executive of The Edinburgh Woollen Mill, is delighted that the Company has continued its involvement with such a prestigious event: "We feel privileged to be involved again with such an important international event. As designers and retailers, we are naturally proud to be producing such a stunning uniform, which we feel will do justice to our Scottish tradition, the Scottish Team and to this wonderful occasion.

"The Edinburgh Woollen Mill is delighted to have shared the dream and supported the team."

The full uniform will be unveiled on 4 July as athletes gather for their kitting out.

Athletes and team officials alike are in the final stages of their preparation to ensure that the 2002 Bank of Scotland Scottish Team is the best prepared ever. Commenting Louise Martin, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland said: "We are absolutely delighted with the level of support we have received from our title sponsors Bank of Scotland and our uniform sponsors Edinburgh Woollen Mill. It all comes down to teamwork.

"This is a crucial time for all our athletes competing for places on the Bank of Scotland Scottish Team, and the next few weeks see us move ever closer to selecting our team."

Chris Hoy is looking forward to the Games, and it would mean a great deal to him to represent Scotland. He said: "I am hoping to be selected to compete in the 1Km time trial which would put me up against Olympic champion, Englishman Jason Queally and world champion Shane Kelly. It is going to be tough, but hopefully I should be in with a shout.

"It is great to know that there is such a strong support team behind all the athletes."

  • The Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland (CGCS) is responsible for selecting and preparing the team representing Scotland at the Games and is financed through sponsorship and fundraising activities, and grant support from sportscotland.
  • The total cost of preparing and taking a team to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 is around £450,000.
  • A copy of the overall team and individual sport selection policy is available from the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland.
  • The Scottish Team won 3 gold, 2 silver and 7 bronze medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Scotland's judo players picked up one gold, three silver and four bronze at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland - the only time the sport has been included in the Games.
  • Scotland has competed in every Games since the first British Empire Games in 1930 winning a total of 270 medals (65 gold, 79 silver, 126 bronze).
  • 16 sports are taking part in Manchester: athletics; badminton; bowls; boxing; cycling; gymnastics; hockey (women's); judo; rugby 7s; shooting; squash; swimming; table tennis; triathlon; weightlifting; and wrestling.
  • The 2002 Commonwealth Games are being held in Manchester 25 July - 4 August.
  • In December 2000 Bank of Scotland announced its second time sponsorship of the Bank of Scotland Scottish Team for the Commonwealth Games. The Bank's sponsorship specifically funds coaching and preparation for the team to help improve our athletes' medal chances.
  • Bank of Scotland is the largest commercial sponsor of youth sport in Scotland and this year over 12,000 young people will take part in youth development projects supported by Bank of Scotland.
  • Bank of Scotland recently merged with Halifax plc to create HBOS plc. With 25million customers, 60,000 staff, 3.1m shareholders, 1,100 branches and 3,600 ATMs HBOS is the new force in banking - to find out more visit http://www.hbosplc.com/
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