COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND NEWSLETTER ISSUE 20 – SUMMER 2013 AIMING TO MAKE YOUR TEAM! and standards and we thank the governing which aims to raise the awareness of Team bodies for their support. We have also been Scotland and enable the public to get to Chairman’s view working closely with the sportscotland know who will be representing them in institute of sport through a joint planning Glasgow. The athletes greatly value the 2013 is a crucial year for group and the ‘Mission 2014’ process, support of their family and friends, but to Commonwealth Games Scotland which is essential in ensuring every aspect know that they have the additional backing (CGS) as all the plans and of the performance plans are as good from the Scottish public would mean a preparations for Team as they can be and that no stone is left huge amount, just as it did for Team GB in unturned. London last year. Scotland’s participation at Glasgow 2014 start 15 April was a key marker for us, when the We urge everyone across the length to take shape and selection period opened for most sports and breadth of the swing into action. and already we are seeing some excellent country to actively performances from athletes rising to the support us in There has been extensive challenge and delivering results which will our quest for consultation with all take them a step closer to booking their medal success the 17 sports on place on the team. in Glasgow the programme and share our to finalise the It was also with great excitement that we journey to the selection policies launched our ‘Go Scotland!’ campaign Games! Michael Cavanagh and an extra £1 million Scottish Government funding this year for elite sport. Team Scotland will be the strongest and best prepared team possible and I want to see everyone in Scotland get behind all of our athletes and sign up for the Go Scotland! campaign. Together we can boost Team Scotland to win gold and deliver the best ever Commonwealth Games.” Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “It’s a really exciting time for sport in Scotland and this Key Games partners celebrate the Go Scotland! launch with athletes and some enthusiastic Glasgow schoolchildren campaign launch represents another significant milestone on the road to Glasgow. “The sportscotland institute of sport Go Scotland! coaches, experts, and scientists work very closely with Scotland’s high performance The clear aim for Team Scotland is to have its largest and most successful team athletes and, consequently, they are as well ever in Glasgow. With many of our athletes having experienced first-hand the prepared as they ever have been going into excitement of a home Olympic Games in London last year, CGS is planning to a Commonwealth Games. All of Scotland replicate that national feel good factor here in Scotland. will be fully behind our athletes, and it will be an incredible experience for them to compete in front of a home crowd.” To start the build-up to the Games for Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, the Team Scotland, in April CGS launched its theme of the photographs is about sport David Grevemberg, Chief Executive of new public engagement campaign ‘Go meeting culture, which will be reflected Glasgow 2014, said: “The passion and Scotland!’ The campaign aims to raise the in 2014 through the extensive cultural enthusiasm of home support for Team awareness of the 17 sports in the Games festival that is being organised as part Scotland will be a defining element of a and give greater profile to the athletes of the Commonwealth Games and which successful Commonwealth Games for aiming for selection to the team. It’s also will showcase Glasgow’s international Glasgow and Scotland. calling for the whole of Scotland to get reputation as a cultural as well as sporting behind the team by pledging their support centre of excellence. This is a real opportunity for people in at goscotland.org and through social communities across Scotland to start media channels. The group shot (see front cover) shows the connecting with a new generation of full range of sports in the Games and the home-grown sporting heroes and heroines To mark the occasion a special edition strength and unity of the team. Each of and share the journey with them towards set of athlete images were published, the individual photos links the athlete and success at our home Games.” showing prospective Team Scotland their sport to an exhibit or the architecture athletes in a different and unusual light, in Kelvingrove, drawing out the parallels as they have never been seen before. between the two either in terms of the Taken at the magnificent Kelvingrove movement involved or key attributes of Rebecca Bee – Beautifully the sport. They aim to create a talking poised to make your team Craig Benson – Racing fast to make your team point and everyone will have their own favourite! Calling for people to back the campaign, Sport Minister Shona Robison said: “This is an exciting time for Team Scotland and all Scottish athletes who have been in training for the Games for years – now it’s crunch time. The Team has all the ingredients to succeed next year, with outstanding facilities, high 2 standards of coaching Libby Clegg, Para-Sport – Serious sprinting to make your team Boxer Scott Forest signs autographs with children from St Fillan’s Primary School. Team Scotland under starter’s orders Joining the athletes were children from St Fillan’s Primary School in Glasgow. Earlier Scotland’s athletes are now under starter’s orders for Glasgow 2014, with the in the year they had produced Go Scotland! official Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) selection period to qualify for banners for their own Commonwealth Team Scotland opening at the start of April 2013. Games festival. They brought the colourful banners along to cheer on Team Scotland Athletes from the 17 sports on the Games only in terms of medals, but strength in and enjoyed taking part in the photos. They programme will have just over a year to depth. We believe this is a result of robust, were also the very first youngsters to be produce the necessary performances to clear, consistent selection policies and able to collect athlete autographs on the lay claim to a coveted place on the Team. a strong team ethos, underpinned by new Team posters. What makes it even more special is the improved SGB performance planning and fact that the Commonwealth Games is the backed by excellent high performance only multi-sport event where athletes get support from sportscotland. I can confirm to compete for Scotland as a nation in its this approach to selection will continue, own right. so that each athlete selected is assured that their team-mates equally deserve Already there are indications of excellent the honour of representing Scotland at early season form, with more than 40 Glasgow 2014.” To download a free set of athletes in six sports having performed to athlete posters and to show agreed selection standards on at least one The twin aims of the selection policy are to occasion. All performances will be verified, ensure that Scotland selects a team that your support, sign up at following nominations from SGBs, when performs with distinction in 2014, and has www.goscotland.org initial selections are considered by CGS in its most successful Games ever in terms of September. medals won. The key elements are: Search Team Scotland Lawn bowls has already secured their full All individual sports will be quota of 10 able-bodied athlete places, represented by a minimum of three following outstanding medal success at athletes, with the performance target last December’s World Championships. of top eight or top two thirds of the Scotland’s Badminton players also pulled field at recent Commonwealth Games, out all the stops at the Sudirman Cup in whichever is the tighter. May to finish top of their group and 13th All host team sport places will be overall. As a result they have secured accepted, with the performance their minimum three men’s and three target of top eight at the Games. women’s places for the mixed team event Consideration will be given to allow in Glasgow. Also inspired by the lure of a athletes to participate in additional home Games, both men’s and women’s events to those they qualify in. Table Tennis teams have each secured their minimum three team places following semi Sport specific selection standards have and quarter final places at their recent now been published and provide clear Commonwealth Championships. targets for athletes to achieve. Explaining how the selection policy will For full details of the Team Scotland operate, Commonwealth Games Scotland selection policy and sports specific (CGS) Chief Executive and Team Scotland selection standards go to http://www. Chef de Mission, Jon Doig said: “Competing cgcs.org.uk/glasgow-2014/team- for Scotland at a Commonwealth Games is selection-policies/ a highlight of any athlete’s career and the added opportunity to perform at a home games is a privilege experienced by very few athletes. “Over the last three games cycles, Team Scotland has had increasing success not 3 contributed to the wider Glasgow 2014 medical services planning. Round-table discussions focused on everything from the Village Polyclinic and medical support in Dundee for the shooting squads at Barry Buddon, to an oversight of the medical volunteer recruitment process. Outlining the progress made Niall Elliott said: “The Village Polyclinic will be an impressive medical centre, with access to medical specialists, advanced imaging equipment and allied healthcare professionals who will all have significant sports experience.