Boxing to benefit from sportscotland funding
Thursday 10 August 2006
sportscotland today announced annual funding to the sport of amateur boxing.
Boxing has a strong tradition in Scotland and at Commonwealth level is the only sport to win a medal at every Commonwealth Games since they started in 1930.
Edinburgh’s Kenny Anderson was the latest to succeed, winning gold in Melbourne earlier this year, giving him a platform to turn professional last month. Kenny was one of seven boxers selected for the Games who had benefited from sportscotland funding.
The £160,000 investment to Amateur Boxing Scotland Ltd (ABS), of which £135,000 is from the sportscotland Lottery Fund, will go towards organisational development of the governing body, player improvement and the sport’s medal success strategy. The organisation’s mission is to foster and promote amateur boxing in Scotland to attract more players, achieve higher standards and improve the profile of the sport. It receives technical and financial support through sportscotland and, within the past year, has introduced a new post to co-ordinate the medal success programme.
Medal success funding will assist in performance staffing and the training and competition schedule for senior and junior squads. Current goals are to implement a programme that will best prepare Scotland’s junior elite boxers (aged 16 to 20) for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Player improvement funding will assist the cadet development programme for young boxers aged 12 to 16. The aims of ABS are to ensure that the grassroots development of the sport is being supported at District Level, through to the U-16 age groups, with an eye on developing talented cadets for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Donald Campbell of Amateur Boxing Scotland Ltd, said: “sportscotland’s continued investment into amateur boxing has made a significant difference to young and up-and-coming boxers in Scotland. This year’s award will ensure that grassroots development continues and that we have gloves ‘on and ready’ as our junior and cadet squads look toward the future.”
Julia Bracewell, Chair, sportscotland, said: “sportscotland is pleased to award £160,000 to Amateur Boxing Scotland. The investment will allow the governing body to successfully run its organisation and to focus on the next generation of boxers for both 2010 and 2014.”
Identified athletes receiving Athlete Support
David Savage (Argo ABC) GLASGOW G81
Jason Hastie (Gilmerton AAC) EDINBURGH EH17
Kristofer Carslaw (Paisley YMCA ABC) PAISLEY PA2
Fundo Mhura (Leith Victoria ABC) EDINBURGH EH4
Stephen Simmons (Leith Victoria ABC) EDINBURGH EH11