countdwn COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND NEWSLETTER ISSUE 18 – SPRING 2012 “I have no doubt that his generosity will help to make a significant difference and allow these athletes to fully focus on realising their sporting aspirations. I know he will follow their progress with interest and will gain great satisfaction from seeing them achieve great things for Scotland.” Excited to be receiving £1000 towards driving lessons and the cost of running a car, triple gold medallist at the Commonwealth Youth Games, swimmer Craig Benson said: “This is fantastic news. This funding will make a massive difference to me helping me to become self-sufficient getting to and from training. The amount of support that my family gives me is huge and to make it easier financially for them would be amazing.” Craig Benson celebrates Youth Games success Fellow swimmer Emily Jones added: “To receive this funding is a great boost for me. I know I have the full support of my New support scheme recognises potential family, but to know that there is support of this kind from an organisation is A targeted new initiative was launched by the Scottish Commonwealth Games Youth incredible, it means that others have the Trust at the end of February, which saw nine young athletes receive awards up to £1000 belief in my abilities, and this will make from the PHM Scholarship Support Fund in recognition of their potential. me even more determined than ever to succeed and achieve my goals.” This is a new source of additional and all of them have demonstrated athlete support funding which is success at junior national and With a ten year commitment given to the being administered by the Scottish international level, coupled with the PHM Scholarship Support Fund this is Commonwealth Games Youth Trust, potential to go on to represent Scotland at great news for Scottish athletes. following support from a private individual future Games. impressed by the potential of Scotland’s young athletes. The funding will be put to a range of good Those athletes benefiting from uses, but focused on helping with living this new initiative are: Support is available for up to 12 costs and special dietary requirements, ATHLETICS BADMINTON prospective Commonwealth Games purchasing kit and equipment, assisting athletes under the age of 26 towards with travel costs to training and their preparation for events leading up competition or even for areas of personal to the 2014 Commonwealth Games and development. beyond. Athletes have been selected based on their performance at the 2011 Welcoming the new initiative, Michael Tom Holligan (17) Zoey Clark (17) Kirsty Gilmour (18) Commonwealth Youth Games. Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth £900 £1000 £950 Games Scotland said: “We are truly BOXING Whilst the award is made for an initial one indebted to this individual who has year period, an in principle commitment recognised the potential that so many of is made for a further two years, giving our young athletes in Scotland have. It is the athletes greater security and allowing fantastic that he has personally stepped them to focus fully on their training and forward to support a number of them on Charlie Flynn (18) Mark McKeown (17) Kieran Smith (18) competition. Care has also been taken to an ongoing basis in order to help secure £800 £1000 £1000 ensure that this funding provides an their sporting future. This is a crucial SWIMMING CYCLING enhanced level of support and does time in their development when it not duplicate funding awarded by would be easy for external factors other providers. such as cost to influence their decision whether to quit, or Six of the athletes awarded, continue and flourish in their won medals at the 2011 chosen sport. Craig Benson (17) Emily Jones (16) Grant Ferguson Commonwealth Youth Games, £1000 £1000 (18) £850 Gold Coast comes out on top for 2018 In the vote to decide the host city for the Peters have now been appointed to the This decision will now allow CGS to start 2018 Games the Gold Coast Australia beat equivalent positions in the newly formed to form its initial plans for Team Scotland’s Hambantota, Sri Lanka by 43 votes to 27. Organising Committee. participation. The Games will take place in April 2018 and Congratulating the Gold Coast, Michael It was also confirmed that the 2017 will include: Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Cavanagh, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in St Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Scotland said: “We are confident that Gold Lucia, the first time a Commonwealth Games Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby 7s, Coast City will stage a fabulous Games, event has been held in the Caribbean since Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, reflecting their own sporting culture and Jamaica 1966. Weightlifting, Wrestling. heritage, whilst continuing to strengthen the Games brand. We look forward to working with Bid Chairman Mark Stockwell and CEO Mark them as the host city after Glasgow.” CGF UPDATE Sports programme changes augur well for Scotland Following the year long review of the Sports Programme which HRH Prince Imran with CGS Chairman Michael concluded at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Cavanagh on a visit to Glasgow in January Assembly in St Kitts & Nevis last November, a number of welcome changes were introduced. Those in place for Glasgow 2014 include: New leader at the helm for CGF The re-introduction of two bronze medals for Wrestling and Judo. After 17 years continuous service as President of the CGF, The The para-sport programme was increased from 15 to 20 Honorable Mike Fennell OJ CD of Jamaica stood down at the events across Athletics, Cycling, Lawn Bowls, Powerlifting and General Assembly. He is succeeded by CGF vice-president, Swimming. These events include tandem cycling events in HRH Tunku Imran from Malaysia who stood unopposed, as did which Ayrshire’s Aileen McGlynn and Aberdonian Neil Fachie Scotland’s Louise Martin CBE who was elected for a fourth term as are current Paralympic and World medallists and there is a Honorary Secretary. welcome return for a disability triples Lawn Bowls event in which Scotland last competed and won gold in 2002. In a visit to Glasgow in January to review progress towards 2014, CGS Chairman Michael Cavanagh had the opportunity to welcome Further changes were also made and will apply to the 2018 Games the Prince in his new official capacity. and beyond. The women’s shooting programme was amended to make Tunku Imran has taken swift action to ensure the future of the CGF the events equitable with the men. This is great news for and has appointed pmplegacy to undertake a comprehensive and Scotland, and Jen McIntosh may now have the opportunity to independent Strategic Review of the organisation. The objective of defend the women’s smallbore prone title she won in 2010, as the Review is to provide a framework for the future development well as the smallbore 3 position. of the CGF. It will consider the organisation’s vision and objectives, Triathlon – a team event comprising two men and two women governance, management and funding, as well as branding and was added as an optional event. communications. Following extensive stakeholder consultation, Three women’s events in Boxing were added. the findings of the Review will be reported at the CGF General An eight team women’s Rugby 7s tournament has been Assembly in Uganda in September. added as an optional event. Open Water Swimming was added as an optional discipline. Commenting Tunku Imran said: “This is a very exciting time for the CGF. We recognise the many challenges and opportunities Since November, discussions have been taking place between facing the Commonwealth Games movement and this review Glasgow 2014 and the CGF about which if any of the other changes provides a critical opportunity to re-assess our long term vision they may be able to adopt in the sports programme for 2014. and objectives and ensure our activities remain relevant and 2 sustainable going forward.” Team Scotland 2014 preparations well under way With the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow now only two and a half years away, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is well on track with its operational planning for Team Scotland’s participation in the Games. General Selection Policy in place Following extensive consultation with the performance directors of the 17 sports on the New Team logo Games programme, the General Selection Policy for Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, has now been approved and will come into play from 15 April 2013. A new Team Scotland logo to This is the earliest that the General Selection Policy has been in place, ensuring all athletes mark the team’s participation in in Scotland with the aspiration and potential to compete in Glasgow 2014 know at the the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth earliest possible time exactly what they must do to make the team. Games has been unveiled recently. Designed by Tangent, It retains the Over the last three Games cycles, Team Scotland has had increasing success, largely as a Team Scotland wordmark and CGS result of a robust, clear, consistent selection policy and a strong Team Scotland ethos. This thistle graphic whilst incorporating approach will continue, providing every opportunity to enhance individual performances and elements of the Glasgow 2014 building 17 sports into one team. logo and wordmark using the subtle, flowing lines of the sport Following a commitment made at the 2011 CGS AGM, the two aims of the updated policy are pictograms. to ensure that Scotland selects a team that performs with distinction in 2014, achieving its The new logo will be used across highest ever number of medals and highest number of gold medals, whilst maximising the the range of promotional materials opportunity of a home Games.