WHILE Scotland shivers with temperatures of minus seven and we go about our daily life wrapped up from head to toe trying to keep warm, I am aware of a group of people who probably haven’t noticed the cold weather at all as they are totally focused on 2018, sunshine and sea and of course next year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Another list of athletes has been confirmed for Team Scotland and the Gold Coast and it’s a pretty strong line-up.
Team Scotland have set out their stall basically saying we want another Glasgow 2014 where medals and success are concerned.
Lifting 53 medals in Glasgow was no mean feat, however the focus and determination of our athletes and the heights many have achieved since then, must augur well for a successful 2018.
There are a few new faces this time, including Vicky Glover, who will be the first Scottish woman to participate in boxing for Scotland at a Commonwealth Games.
Crowned British champion last year, she just missed out on medal by a split decision at the World Youth Championships in India earlier this year.
In athletics, there are six newcomers to the team including 17-year-old Holly McArthur, who becomes Scotland’s first Commonwealth Games heptathlete for 20 years, as well as Aberdeen’s Zoey Clark, who made a breakthrough over 400m to reach the semi-finals and take silver in the 4x400m at the London World Championships.
We also have a great line-up of para athletes with gold medallist Karen Darke participating in the Gold Coast para-triathlon, which is being contested for the first time, and, of course, Sammi Kinghorn the multi-award winning athlete of 2018, who will be participating in the marathon.
I think Christmas has come early for the athletes who now know they are set to travel Down Under in just over 100 days from now to represent Scotland and I am looking forward to watching this spectacle from the comfort of my armchair, unfortunately not deckchair!
SWIS are now on to our fifth Sport in the #GirlsDoSport series of programmes – this week we are showcasing #GirlsDoBasketball.
Basketball is thriving in Scotland – from the national team, through to the Lady Rocks and on to the work the Glasgow Rocks themselves carry out in the community as part of their partnership with Scottish Sports Futures (SSF).
The Rocks assist in the delivery of the ‘Jump to it’ programme which is a primary school-focused health and citizenship programme, delivered across Scotland to “at-risk” youths and utilising The Rocks players to deliver interactive workshops.
This kind of intervention really seems to engage young people and the success rate is excellent. They also help with Rocks Community Clubs which provide fun through all-inclusive basketball sessions aimed at boys and girls from seven to 13 years old.
The third programme, the Shell Twilight Basketball programme, is a national programme which provides basketball sessions infused with education and life-skills. These sessions are free and aimed at children 11-21.
SSF have their awards dinner in on January 26th, where they will kick-off celebrations for Scotland’s Year of Young People. Tickets are still available.
Reporting in the GDS programme is our Everactiv Ambassador, Isla Barclay who interviews Adrienne Hunter from Glasgow Fever Basketball club, a club she formed in 2010.
Adrienne was the recipient of the Local Hero Award at last week’s Sportscotland dinner and has a rich and varied history in basketball. The club has grown from 10 female members to over 300 now and now deliver basketball in various locations throughout Glasgow and have added a male and youth section to their books.
If you haven’t caught any of the programmes, #GirlsDo Tennis, Athletics, Sailing, Roller Derby and Basketball, they are on our website now at http://www.scottishwomeninsport.co.uk/
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