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Young sporting stars honoured
07/11/2008
Scotland's young sporting stars will be honoured in Edinburgh tonight.
Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell will host a reception in Edinburgh Castle to pay tribute to the Scottish team that competed at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India.
Fourty four athletes flew the flag for Scotland in India where, for the first time, all 71 Commonwealth countries participated in the Youth Games.
Mr Maxwell said:
"These young athletes performed very well, not only winning 18 medals but improving on personal best performances.They demonstrated outstanding effort and dedication in pursuit of personal excellence.
"The Commonwealth Youth Games is an excellent experience for any young athlete. It allows them to participate in a major multi-sport event, which is invaluable when attempting to qualify for future Commonwealth Games.
"These young athletes were a credit to themselves, their families and were tremendous ambassadors for their sport and the young people of Scotland."
Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is the organisation responsible for selecting and preparing the team to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.
CGS is funded through sponsorship and fundraising activities, grant support from sportscotland (£110,000 for 2008) and an Endowment Trust Fund established by the Scottish Government following the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
The Endowment fund contributed £50,000 to Pune preparations.
The 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games Team was also supported by Clydesdale Bank.