This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scottish Institute of Sport will lead to sporting success
29/10/1999
The Scottish Institute of Sport network will lead Scotland towards sporting success on the world stage, said Minister for Children and Education Sam Galbraith today, as he announced details of the Institute's structure and organisation.
"The Institute will be a network of people, not an office block or a monument. Its approach will be coach-led and athlete-centred," he said.
"From its hub, to be located in Stirling, the Institute will reach out to all parts of Scotland to challenge and support our talented athletes to maximise their potential.
"There will be six Area Institutes, focal points which will be the local sources of excellence, delivering quality services to Institute athletes, providing education and support for coaches and identifying and nurturing talent.
"Some two thirds of Scotland's talented athletes live in the East and West of Scotland areas so they will be the major beneficiaries of the Institute's spending on programmes and services. It is important that investment in sports facilities in these areas continues if they are to provide the world class performance centres on which the majority of our top athletes will be relying.
"The two major delivery centres will be the West and East of Scotland Areas, based in Glasgow and Edinburgh respectively. In addition there will be Area Institutes based in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee and Stirling. Other centres for sport, including sportscotland's national centres at Inverclyde, Cumbrae and Glenmore Lodge, will form part of the network.
"This is a challenging and exciting time for Scottish sport and everyone involved in it. Through the programmes we are putting in place in schools and communities, we are building an infrastructure that will encourage a massive increase in participation in sport. From that base, more and more talented athletes will emerge across a whole range of sports and that talent must be nurtured and its potential realised."
News Release: SE1097/1999
29 Oct 1999