With just under 2 years to go until Birmingham 2022, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is delighted to announce the appointment to Team Scotland of Sport Team Managers for 17 of the 19 sports on the Birmingham 2022 programme as preparations continue for the XXII Commonwealth Games.
Three former Commonwealth Games athletes step into a Sport Team Manager role for the first time for 2022 with Glasgow 2014 flagbearer and gold medallist Euan Burton, currently High Performance Coach with Judo Scotland, leading Scotland’s judoka in Birmingham. He is joined by Glasgow 2014 Badminton medallist Robert Blair and former World Triathlon Championship medallist and twice Commonwealth Games competitor Catriona Morrison, whose first-hand knowledge of what is required to perform at the highest level will be invaluable.
Six Sport Team Managers return from Gold Coast 2018, bringing a wealth of knowledge into the team. Lindsay Lewis (Aquatics), Julie Mollison (Athletics), Ben Philip (Beach Volleyball) and Stephen Gertsen (Table Tennis) will draw on their experience ‘Down Under’, as will Glasgow 2014 Athletics competitor Jamie Bowie, who will take on the Gymnastics Team Manager role for a second Games. Karen McElveen returns for a third Games, having led Team Scotland’s Netball team in both 2014 and 2018.
For nine of the Sport Team Managers named, although Birmingham 2022 will be their first Games with Team Scotland, they will bring valuable experience from a wide range of sporting and professional backgrounds as former international athletes, in roles within Scottish and UK sporting bodies and from careers as varied as Strength and Conditioning, Information Technology and Careers Advice.
Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland Chef de Mission for Birmingham 2022 said: “The sport team managers play a vital role creating the best possible environment for athletes and staff from each sport to excel at the Games, as well as bringing them all together as one Team Scotland.
“I’m delighted to welcome such an exciting and diverse group of returning staff, former athletes and those new to Team Scotland. I look forward to working with them all. Having the majority of team managers confirmed so early gives us the opportunity to develop a strong team ethos together and enable our athletes to perform to their best in 2022.”
In a first for Team Scotland, all selected Team Managers will take part in a two year, personalised training and development programme which combines modules, webinars, e-learning resources, and peer learning. The programme, developed by Team Scotland in partnership with First Ascent and sportscotland, will cultivate knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours so each manager is highly confident, ready to deliver in their role and able to support athletes to perform to their potential in Birmingham.
Six Understudy Managers have also been appointed and will also complete the training and development programme alongside the 2022 Sport Team Managers. They will begin their journey as potential Team Managers for 2026 and be available to step in should any Team Manager become unexpectedly unavailable for 2022.
Sport Team Managers for Women’s Cricket and for Men’s and Women’s Hockey will be appointed in the coming months.
Team Scotland Sport Team Managers 2022
Lindsay Lewis | Aquatics |
Julie Mollison | Athletics |
Robert Blair | Badminton |
Joanne Holmes | Basketball 3×3 |
Kevin Kerr | Boxing |
Ben Philip | Beach Volleyball |
Christie Pollock | Cycling |
Jamie Bowie | Gymnastics |
Euan Burton | Judo |
Billy Mellors | Lawn Bowls |
Karen McElveen | Netball |
Maura Diamond | Rugby (Men’s) |
Allan MacDonald | Rugby (Women’s) |
Mary McClung | Squash |
Stephen Gertsen | Table Tennis |
Catriona Morrison | Triathlon |
Colin Hannah | Weightlifting |
Vasile Jornea | Wrestling |
Bid Stanger | Understudy |
Pamela Robson | Understudy |
Jill O’Neil | Understudy |
Blair Pettigrew | Understudy |
Peter Barron | Understudy |
Jennifer Griffin | Understudy |