A year to go to Gold Coast 2018 . . .

Tuesday 4th April 2017

Today marks one year to go until the next Commonwealth Games get underway in Gold Coast, Australia, where Team Scotland will be aiming for its most successful ever overseas Games.

In the region of 220 athletes will be proudly flying the flag for Scotland next year, with qualifying events continuing throughout 2017 and early 2018.

‘It is really exciting to celebrate one year to go until the next Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and to think that this time next year our team of around 220 athletes will be marching into the Carrara Stadium for the Opening Ceremony, ‘ said Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Jon Doig.

‘Scottish athletes from all the different sports love the opportunity to come together as Team Scotland for the Commonwealth Games and we believe our strong team ethos plays a big part in the team’s overall success.

‘We are aiming to have our most successful ever overseas Games, winning more than the 29 medals achieved at Melbourne 2006.

‘I think this is a realistic and ambitious target, given that there are largely the same sports as on the 2006 programme and at the same time of year.

‘We believe our plans are well on track and already we are seeing some exciting Scottish performances as athletes bid to meet the rigorous selection standards set at top six in the Commonwealth.

‘Overall we are confident we will have a strong and highly motivated team and we are looking forward to what we are sure will be a fantastic Games in Gold Coast next year.’

VIDEO: Andy Butchart at the sportscotland institute of sport

Three of the four Scottish medallists in athletics in Glasgow – Lynsey Sharp, Mark Dry and Eilidh Doyle Mike Whittingham, Director of High Performance at the sportscotland institute of sport added: ‘We are proud to be part of the ‘team behind the team’ working with our partners in the governing bodies of sport and Commonwealth Games Scotland to make sure that Scotland’s athletes are fully prepared to deliver on the world stage.

‘At sportscotland we are developing a world-class sporting system at every level and we know that the athletes selected for Team Scotland can play a huge part in inspiring and encouraging more young people to become involved in sport and take their first steps on a pathway to a more active life.’

Among the 18 sports to be contested will be the new sport of Beach Volleyball (men’s and women’s Pairs) designed to show off the Gold Coast’s ‘trademark’ beaches and Scotland is aiming to be represented in both events.

Despite us having some of the finest white sandy beaches in the world, Scotland is not often viewed as the ‘natural home’ of Beach Volleyball. However, Scottish Volleyball is thrilled to see the sport included on the programme for the very first time and is making great strides with preparations.

Two new permanent courts have recently been installed at the iconic Portobello Beach near Edinburgh by Edinburgh Beach Volleyball Club with support from the local community and City of Edinburgh Council.

And leading the charge for Scotland is the London 2012 women’s volleyball captain of the indoor game, Lynne Beattie (Edinburgh) and partner and former British champion, Melissa Coutts (Edinburgh), who have re-focused their training on the pairs, beach version of this exciting sport.

‘I think it’s every sports person’s dream to compete at an Olympics, and to do it at home and to be captain was an unbelievable experience,’ said Lynne Beattie.

‘But I would also love the opportunity to represent Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, something I never thought would happen. Last year when the news came out that Beach Volleyball was being included in Gold Coast 2018, is when we really started to work hard.

‘Mel and I both work, so we have to fit in training sessions in the cold and dark or whatever the weather, but it is great to have this permanent facility here at Portobello.’

Among the other firsts for Gold Coast is the parity between men’s and women’s participation, with the same number of medal events for both sexes.

Likewise the Para-Sport programme has been given a further boost from the enhanced programmed offered by Glasgow, to a total of 35 events across six sports (Swimming, Athletics, Cycling, Lawn Bowls, Triathlon, Powerlifting).

Tags: Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014, Gold Coast 2018, Jon Doig