Active Schools Gets Commonwealth Games Fever!

March 2006

Scotland's team enjoyed great success at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The Active Schools team across the Western Isles co-ordinated a series of visits to ten schools by three times Commonwealth Games Gold medalist Kirsty Wade, to encourage young people to think about how they could be part of London 2012 or even Glasgow 2014, should the city be successful in their bid . Kirsty won the 800m title in Brisbane in 1982, the last time the Games were held in Australia and also took the 800m and 1500m titles in Edinburgh in 1986.

The visits allowed nearly 300 youngsters in Lewis, Harris, North and South Uist the opportunity to meet Kirsty, quiz her about her athletics career and ask other health, fitness and nutrition questions. They also had the opportunity to watch film of Kirsty competing and to have a look at a couple of her Commonwealth Games Gold medals.

"It was great to meet so many youngsters who have an enthusiasm for sport. As a mother of three children myself, I know how important it is that they become interested in some form of physical activity. It is not possible for everyone to become elite performers but taking part in sport as a child is proven to have beneficial effects on adult health" said Kirsty "Daliburgh School have twinned with a school in Australia as a result of the Commonwealth Games, so hopefully there will be a long term friendship and educational legacy as a result".

The Active Schools team were also very fortunate to gain access to a promotional film from the London 2012 Olympic team to use in the presentations. "We are very grateful to London 2012 for allowing us to be the first schools in the UK to have access to the film" said Tony Wade, Team Leader, Active Schools. "The film focuses on young people from around the world and how they follow their dream of competing in the 2012 Olympics. It is a very inspiring film which seemed to make a powerful impression on our young audience"

Although Kirsty was born in Scotland, she was brought up in Mid-Wales. "I think it was important for the youngsters to hear that I came from a similar remote community - it was a three hour round trip to a running track for me when I was at school. There is no reason why youngsters from the Western Isles cannot achieve great things utilising the fantastic facilities that have been developed over the last few years - in fact this is already starting to happen with Eve Carrington and Eilidh Mackenzie receiving national recognition. Not forgetting that up and coming youngster Alistair Dunlop!

The fact that the Western Isles now competes in the International Island Games is the ideal stepping stone for our talented young sports people - a number of the competitors from last years games in Shetland competed with distinction in Melbourne last week. With the sort of talent we have in the islands, it hopefully won't be too long before we see a local athlete representing their country at a major championship".