Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games & Sport, joined sportscotland Chair, Louise Martin CBE and sportscotland Director of High Performance, Mike Whittingham in Glasgow today (Wed 31 August) to announce the launch of the sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards (SAPAs).
Managed by the sportscotland institute of sport, this new 3-year initiative offers an annual financial award of £3,000, £5,000 or £10,000 to individual athletes who are considered to have the potential to deliver a medal winning performance at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games (and / or London 2012 Olympics).
In the first of three, annual award announcements, forty-five athletes across 13 sports (see list below) will receive awards totalling £204,000. Recipients include 2010 Commonwealth Games shooting gold medallist Jon Hammond (£10,000), hurdler Eilidh Child (£5,000) and judo’s 20-year-old rising star Samantha Clark (£3,000).
The individual awards are from the sportscotland Lottery Fund and are in addition to any other funding the athlete may receive from the likes of sponsors and benefactors. Awards are intended to help the athlete cover training, competition and living costs. Additional support in these areas can be invaluable for athletes looking to make steps towards Olympic or Commonwealth success.
Commonwealth Games and Sport Minister Shona Robison said: “Scotland will be at the centre of the international stage when the Commonwealth Games come to Glasgow in 2014, and we are looking forward to seeing our athletes shine. The sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards are geared towards supporting athletes with the potential to step up onto the podium, and I am delighted to welcome today’s announcement of the first sportsmen and women to be supported. The awards will help athletes concentrate on doing their best and, most importantly, inspire future generations of sports stars in Scotland.”
SAPA recipient, shooter Jen McIntosh said: “Being a full-time athlete has it’s challenges, and sport is certainly not cheap and easy. There are a number of pressures on athletes financially, which can take their toll on you. The new sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards will go some way to alleviate those pressures and allow me to concentrate on what is most important; my sport.”
Louise Martin CBE, chair of sportscotland, added: “Every recipient of a sportscotland Athlete Personal Award has been identified through a stringent assessment process of having the potential to deliver a medal winning performance for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“The initiative has been developed by sportscotland in partnership with our SGB partners to give our top athletes every chance of success come 2014. Being an athlete requires 100% commitment, and with that comes certain pressures and demands, which we hope the SAPAs will help to balance.”
Nominations for an award are made by the athlete’s governing body (SGB). The final decision of who receives an individual award is made by a panel of sportscotland staff led by the Director of High Performance, Mike Whittingham.
With Glasgow 2014 less than three years away, Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said: “A number of our athletes still face significant financial challenges in covering the cost of their training and competition, as well as day to day living costs. This means some of them have to compromise on their ideal training regime, or balance it with work commitments, which is less than ideal.
“These awards are extremely welcome and will go a long way toward enabling athletes to focus clearly on realising their potential and winning medals for Team Scotland in 2014.“
David Grevemberg, Glasgow 2014’s Acting Chief Executive said: “The launch of the Athlete Personal Award initiative is fantastic for athletes aiming to perform at the highest level. Financial support is crucial in the development of athletes and the funding will help enable athletes to compete at their best in just under three years time at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.”
Free-to-use images from today’s announcement will be distributed to picture desks by:
Nominations process for the sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards
- The total number of athletes supported with an award is determined by medal winning potential
- Nominations are made by Sports Governing Bodies (SGBs) and submitted in athlete priority order
- Decisions are taken by a panel of sportscotland staff, led by the Director of High Performance, Mike Whittingham
- No nominations are considered without key supporting information, including an athlete’s past track record, current position and future potential
Recipients of sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards (SAPAs) – August 2011
Athletics
- Andy Frost 5000
- Eilidh Child 5000
- James Campbell 5000
- Mark Dry 5000
- Stephanie Twell 5000
- Eilish McColgan 3000
- Lynsey Sharp 3000
Badminton
Boxing
- Aston Brown 5000
- Boxing Josh Taylor 5000
Cycling
- Grant Ferguson 5000
- Katy Winton 5000
Hockey
- Abi Walker 3000
- Hockey Emily Maguire 3000
- Hockey Laura Bartlett 3000
- Hockey Niall Stott 3000
- Hockey Stephen Dick 3000
- Hockey Vikki Bunce 3000
Judo
- Graham Trinder 3000
- James Millar 3000
- Samantha Clark 3000
Rowing
Shooting
- Jen McIntosh 10000
- Jon Hammond 10000
- Shona Marshall 10000
- John MacDonald 5000
- Matt Thomson 5000
- Neil Stirton 5000
Squash
- Alan Clyne 5000
- Lisa Aitken 5000
- Harry Leitch 3000
Swimming
- Craig McNally 5000
- Cameron Brodie 5000
- Doug Scott 5000
- Jak Scott 5000
- Kathryn Johnstone 5000
- Lucy Ellis 5000
Triathlon
Triathlon
Weightlifting
Wrestling
- Alex Gladkov 3000
- Craig McKenna 3000
- Jayne Clason 3000
- Kathryn Marsh 3000
- Sean Keogh 3000