This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Congratulations to Commonwealth team
22/12/2004
The First Minister today congratulated the Scottish
Commonwealth Games Youth Team at a reception in Bute House
held to recognise their successes.
The team have just returned from a highly successful
trip to the Youth Games at Bendigo in Australia where they
came fourth overall and won 52 medals.
Jack McConnell said:
"When Scots achieve at a high level we all feel an
enormous sense of pride. These athletes are an example to
us all. They have been tremendous ambassadors for Scotland,
not just with their medal haul, but by their attitude and
competitive spirit. We are all very proud of their
achievements.
"Competing at this level takes an enormous amount of
hard work and dedication. The team's success at this year's
Games is a tribute to that hard work. I am sure that they
will be an inspiration to future generations of young
Scots."
The First Minister presented an award to the Athlete of
the Games - javelin thrower James Campbell - who set a new
national record for his age group.
The First Minister noted that these successes were some
of the first fruits of the Commonwealth Games Fund, which
he set up in 2002.
He continued:
"These young people are the future of Scottish sport. I
am very pleased that our investment in Scotland's
Commonwealth Games team has paid an immediate dividend. If
their success in these Games is anything to go by, we can
look forward to a very bright future indeed."
The Scottish team, aged between 13 and 18, won a total
of 52 medals at the Games in Bendigo, Australia.
In November 2002, the First Minister announced a £2.5
million Commonwealth Games Fund to help with the costs of
team training, preparation and participation in future
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.
The Mayor of Bendigo sent a letter to the First Minister
paying tribute to the Scottish team for their outstanding
contribution both to the games and as ambassadors for their
country.
The Athlete of the Games (sponsored by the army) was
announced as javelin thrower James Campbell, who won gold
with a throw of 67.21m, setting a new personal best by over
5m and smashing the Scottish Age Group (under 20) record in
the process. The record had stood since before he was
born.
The two runners up were gymnast Adam Cox (Livingston)
and weightlifter Peter Kirkbride (Kilmarnock).