A further 30 athletes across three sports – Boxing (9), Para-Sport Lawn Bowls (7) and Wrestling (14) – have been selected to represent Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014.
Following an intensive year-long selection period, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) in conjunction with Boxing Scotland, Scottish Disability Sport and the Scottish Wrestling Association today confirmed the names of the athletes who will compete in the XX Commonwealth Games this summer.
Making the announcement Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Jon Doig said: “Huge congratulations to all of the athletes who have been selected for Team Scotland. There has been a competitive selection process across the three sports, which has demonstrated the wealth of talent we have in Scotland. Every athlete with a place on the team has clearly demonstrated their ability to meet the selection standards set and has earned the right to compete for Team Scotland.
“Today’s announcement brings us well past the 100 mark in terms of selected athletes for the Games, and we are on track to achieve our goal of having our largest ever team in Glasgow. Alongside that, it is clear that we have the quality within the team to help us achieve our main goal of having our most successful ever Games.”
Of the 30, only ten athletes have represented Scotland at a previous Commonwealth Games, with a further four athletes making the step up from the Commonwealth Youth Games. Boxer Josh Taylor and the Robertson twins are the only Commonwealth Games medallists in the group, but with many capable of emulating their achievement.
Scottish boxers have been consistently successful at the Commonwealth Games, taking home a medal from every competition since its inception as the British Empire Games in 1930. Delhi silver medallist Josh Taylor is looking to build on his experience at the London 2012 Olympics, and is joined in the team by fellow Delhi fighters Joe Ham and Ross Henderson.
Charlie Flynn and Kieran Smith are making the step up from the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man, while Aqeel Ahmed, Reece McFadden, Scott Forrest and Stephen Lavelle make their Team Scotland debuts. The tenth and final place in the boxing team in the 69kg weight category is still to be decided and will be announced in due course.
Boxing Scotland Chairman Richard Thomas said: “For Glasgow 2014, the nomination of our boxers in a number of weights has come down to the wire. We have witnessed determination and courage from all the boxers in the world’s toughest tournaments throughout the selection period. Now the nominations have been confirmed, our focus now turns to ensuring that our boxers deliver to very best of their ability in 92 days-time when the Games begin.”
Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison, said: “First of all I’d like to congratulate each and every one of our athletes on being selected to join Team Scotland. It is a brilliant achievement to represent your country and all those who have made the Boxing, Wrestling and Para-Sport Lawn Bowls teams should feel very proud of themselves. Their selection to Team Scotland is a reflection of the hard work and commitment they have put in over the past year.
“I am also delighted for the coaches and support staff who have played a pivotal role in supporting their athletes up to this point. Many of them benefited from the sportscotland Coach Personal Awards (SCPA’s) scheme announced last year, which covers their expenses while they are supporting their athletes’ training and competition schedules, essentially allowing them to dedicate even more time to their teams.
“This is a very exciting time for Team Scotland. We are on course to deliver a spectacular Games this summer and I hope there will be a lot of celebrating still to come during, and after, the Games.”
Many of the athletes announced today have benefited from the support of sportscotland the national agency for sport and in particular from the high performance support and expertise provided by the sportscotland institute of sport.
Also congratulating the athletes, Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “I am delighted that Team Scotland now has over 100 athletes confirmed for Glasgow, well on track for having a record number of Scots competing in a Commonwealth Games.
“With a mixture of experienced and first-time Games competitors, Team Scotland is shaping up to provide Scotland’s best ever Commonwealth Games performance at what promises to be the best ever Games. The high performance support services provided by sportscotland is world class and we are preparing some of the best athletes in the world – we have much to be proud of and much to look forward to.”
Today’s announcement brings the total Team Scotland numbers selected so far to 122 with an anticipated final team size in the region of 270 athletes.
SELECTED ATHLETES
NAME EVENTS
BOXERS (9)
Aqeel Ahmed 49kg
Reece McFadden 52kg
Joe Ham 56kg
Charlie Flynn 60kg
Josh Taylor 64kg
Kieran Smith 75kg
Scott Forrest 81kg
Stephen Lavelle 91kg
Ross Henderson 91+kg
