Listen
Splashing the cash
08/04/2008
Scottish Swimming is to benefit from an investment of £818,000 in the national governing body, it was announced today by sportScotland.
Ten Scots swimmers achieved the qualifying standard for the Beijing Olympics at the British Championships, the highest ever number of Scots to have secured qualification for an Olympic Games, including five first-time Olympians.
All ten have now had their selection ratified by the British Olympic Association and make up nearly 29 per cent of the British swimming team.
Sport Minister Stewart Maxwell said:
"This is a sensational achievement for all the swimmers who have worked extremely hard to earn their places in the Olympic team going to Beijing. The Scottish Government is keen that as many Scots as possible get the chance to compete on the world stage and to that end we~re investing more than £800,000 in Scottish Swimming. This money will support swimmers at every level to ensure that talented young swimmers are guided along a seamless pathway from grassroots to elite level."
The investment will support the development of the sport at all levels, from grassroots to performance. Central to Scottish Swimming's corporate plan is the aim of providing access to quality coaching and swimming programmes and to ensure that the structures are in place to nurture talent of the future.
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive sportscotland, said:
"Swimming is one of Scotland's biggest success stories and it is fantastic to see so many of our swimmers competing at the highest level. Their achievements will do much to inspire the next generation of Scottish swimmers and the funding announced today will ensure that the development programmes are in place to allow them to develop their potential, whatever their abilities."