The Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) arrived in Scotland today, the 41st stop on its global tour, ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.

As hosts of the last Games in 2014, Glasgow was the first place to give the Baton a huge warm Scottish welcome, as it visited a range of youth and community projects with a strong focus on Games legacy.

Michael Jamieson, Olympic and Commonwealth silver medallist in swimming, had the honour of being the first Batonbearer when it arrived at the Glasgow School of Sport, accompanied by Louise Martin CBE, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Jon Doig OBE, Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games Scotland. They were greeted by the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon MSP; Councillor Eva Bolander, Lord Provost of Glasgow; Leader of Glasgow City Council, Councillor Susan Aitken and Angela Porter, Director of the Glasgow School of Sport.

Glasgow School of Sport is a hotbed of emerging young talent and has contributed numerous athletes to Team Scotland for the Commonwealth Games and Youth Games, including Jamieson and fellow Batonbearer, 16 year old sprinter, Lauren Greig.

Accepting the Baton on behalf of Scotland, Jon Doig OBE, said: “The Queen’s Baton Relay is the iconic symbol of the Commonwealth Games and we are delighted to welcome the Gold Coast 2018 Baton to Scotland today. We have had tremendous enthusiasm and support from local authorities, schools and community groups across the country, helping to organize an exciting programme of events, using the QBR to connect their communities with the Games and embrace the values of the Commonwealth movement as a whole.

“The public support Team Scotland enjoyed for Glasgow 2014 was phenomenal and I look forward to seeing that passion sparked once again, as the Baton journeys through Scotland this week.”

Welcoming the Baton’s arrival, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay to Scotland during its journey around the Commonwealth ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“Scotland hosted the most successful Commonwealth Games ever in Glasgow 2014 and we are looking to achieve our best away games ever in Australia next year.

“Bellahouston Academy has a proud record of producing athletes who have gone onto represent Scotland including our hugely successful Youth Commonwealth Games Team who brought back their highest haul of 21 medals from the recent Games in the Bahamas.

“We will continue to invest for the future by creating world-class facilities and providing funding for coaching and training so that, from grassroots to elite, Scotland can be proud of its sporting achievements.”

The presence of the Baton brings Gold Coast 2018 one step closer for athletes, as Team Scotland aims for its best ever medal haul at an overseas Games and Michael Jamieson said: “It is incredible to think that Glasgow 2014 was three years ago and now Scotland’s very best athletes are training hard once again, to qualify for Gold Coast in just eight months-time. Having the Queen’s Baton Relay here this week will spur them on even more and it will also help to get the public behind the team, which is really important.”

Next stop for the Baton was the former Commonwealth Games Village in Dalmarnock, which is now a thriving residential area and then over the new pedestrian cycle and footbridge into South Lanarkshire, for a loop of the Cuningar Woodland Park courtesy of the Bike Town cycling group, celebrating this important 2014 legacy project which is being driven by Clyde Gateway.

Lord Smith of Kelvin, former chair of the 2014 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and now Chair of Clyde Gateway said: “I was proud to play my part in delivering the most successful ever Commonwealth Games back in 2014, but I am just as proud of the fact that my role with Clyde Gateway is helping to ensure the promises around a lasting and sustainable legacy are being kept.

“The remarkable and eye-catching physical changes in the east end of Glasgow and Rutherglen are being matched by a tremendous economic and social regeneration that has made a real difference to the lives of local people and will continue to do so for many more years to come.”

The busy morning concluded with a visit to meet youngsters at the Badminton Scotland ‘Big Hit’ participation event at the Emirates Arena, a 2017 World Badminton Championships initiative. Carrying the Baton and there to inspire the next generation of young players was Commonwealth Games badminton bronze medallist, Susan Egelstaff.

The Baton was then taken the short distance to The Legacy Hub by People’s Development Trust representative John Macaulay for a Dalmarnock community BBQ.

After visits to Team Scotland sponsor, CGI with Batonbearer  Para-Sport athlete Meggan Dawson-Farrell, there was a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland at a Common Purpose UK students programme, where discussions took place on what this generation of the Commonwealth can do to make our cities more safe and inclusive by 2030.

The finale to the day’s proceedings was a public event in George Square, where the Depute Lord Provost of Glasgow, Baillie Philip Braat met with Glasgow 2014 Clydesiders, including Batonbearer Izzy Conway and Commonwealth Youth Games boxing gold medallist, Tyler Jolly. The Square also witnessed the first meeting of Bonnie the Seal, the new face of the Glasgow 2018 European Championships and the much loved former Glasgow 2014 mascot Clyde, who is now fully immersed in his new Team Scotland role.

Reflecting on the excitement in the city today, Councillor Eva Bolander, Lord Provost of Glasgow, said: “It only seems like yesterday that we were welcoming our own Queen’s Baton Relay to the city ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The people of Glasgow were so excited and enthusiastic, and it really was wonderful to see.

“There was a real sense of pride here in Glasgow today as the 2018 Queen’s Baton toured the city, from its welcome to the country by the next generation of elite Scottish athletes at the Glasgow School of Sport, to its visit with the young people participating in legacy events for the 2017 Badminton World Championships, and meeting with one of our fabulous Clydesiders in George Square.

“If the excitement today is any indicator, everyone in the country will be behind the Scottish athletes next April, cheering Team Scotland on as it aims for its best ever overseas medal haul!”

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the recognised governing body for para bowls in Scotland and is tasked with selecting a national squad that is capable of delivering medals at the highest levels of international competition, including the Home Nations Championships, IBD World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.  Scotland is considered to be one of the leading nations within the sport and our intention is to build on this success.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games para programme will include both the B2/B3 Mixed Pair and the B6/B7/B8 Open Triple events.  During a period of intense competitions, including the 8 Nations and Para Sport Test Event in Broadbeach, Australia and the Bowls Scotland National Championships, SDS along with the coaching staff, have decided to reduce the overall squad. Thus allowing a more focussed approach to those players & directors who are still in the frame for the Games next year.

Commenting on the squad reduction, SDS Performance Manager Gary Fraser said:

“We are at the stage of the process where a more focused approach needs to be taken and therefore a reduction in squad size is essential.  Following the 8 Nations and Para Sport Test Event we learned an awful lot about the players, the conditions and the style of play required to be successful at the Games next year, and although it is incredibly difficult to reduce the player pool, we are confident in those that we are taking forward.  The strength in depth we have across the programme at the present time is strong and we’d like to thanks all those players who have contributed to date.”

A further reduction will be made ahead of the Home International Pairs and Triples test event that will take place in Nottingham from the 27 – 29 of October 2017.  This will be the last selection event prior to SDS nominating players and directors to Commonwealth Games Scotland.

CG2018 Extended Squad

Open Triple B6/B7/B8
Player	Classification	Town	Local Authority
Billy Allan	B6	Cowdenbeath	Fife
Mike Nicoll	B6	Jedburgh	Scottish Borders
Garry Brown	B7	Kirkmuirhill	South Lanarkshire
John Hughes	B7	Stewarton	East Ayrshire
Martin Hunter	B7	Burntisland	Fife
Barbara McMillan	B7	Cowdenbeath	Fife
Michael Simpson	B7	Auchtermuchty	Fife
John Wardrope	B7	Ayr	South Ayrshire
Mixed Pair B2/B3
Player	Classification	Town	Local Authority
Robert Barr	B3	Glasgow	Glasgow
Billy Edgar	B2	Saltcoats	North Ayrshire
Irene Edgar	B2	Saltcoats	North Ayrshire
Maria Spencer	B3	Dunfermline	Fife

 

Directors
Name	Town	Local Authority
Sarah Jane Ewing	Dunfermline	Fife
Ron McArthur	Falkirk	Falkirk
Christine Morrow	Dalmuir	Clydebank
Doreen Strachan	Glasgow	Glasgow
David Thomas	Ardrossan	North Ayrshire
Grace Whitton	Bothwell	North Lanarkshire
Coaches
Name	Town	Local Authority
Bob Dick (Head Coach)	Cupar	Fife
Chris McGready	Falkirk	Forth Valley
Eric McMillan	Cowdenbeath	Fife
Nigel Walker	Dalgety Bay	Fife
Bob Christie	Brechin	Angus
Wendy Purdie	Livingston	West Lothian

 

Edinburgh based Ruairi Logan can be very pleased with his British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Nottingham at the beginning of August.  The 15 year old retained his British Open boys singles title with a comfortable 4-0, 4-0 win against Northern Ireland’s Ross Gourley in the final and then added the mixed doubles crown alongside fellow Scot Ellie Robertson, recording another comprehensive 4-0, 4-0 victory.

 

It was a busy few days for the Broughton High School pupil as he also competed in the main draw for the first time, claiming a victory on his debut.  The former Lothian Disability Sport (LDS) Young Person of the Year, a recent recipient of the Jim Anderson OBE Bursary at the LDS 2017 Awards, recorded a first round victory against Pakistan’s Asif Abassi, winning the tie 6-3, 6-3.  This triumph then provided the young Scot with an opportunity to take on a fellow GB player Alfie Hewett – a player ranked number 4 in the tournament.  The experience shone through as current French Open and Wimbledon doubles Champion Hewett recorded a 6-0, 6-0 victory over the young Scot, as it became evident the pace, power and intensity required to succeed at the very top of the game.  However the young Englishman reserved praise for Logan, stating “Ruairi played some really good points and has a bright future ahead of him.”  Praise indeed from Hewett who would eventually lose in the final 6-4, 6-3 against Argentina’s number one seed Gustavo Fernandez. It is imperative to Ruari’s continual development that he is able to secure more match-time against this elite group of players and this experience will no doubt leave him wanting another crack at this level.

 

The week also saw Logan team up with French partner Guillaume Legendre in the main draw of the male doubles.  The duo received a bye and progressed immediately into the Quarter Finals where they were convincingly beaten by Joachim Gerard (Belgium) and Stefan Olsson (Sweden) 6-0, 6-0 who were then beaten by eventual winners Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer of France.