Next in our series of athlete blogs celebrating UK Black History Month, we hear from Team Scotland’s first ever Gymnastics gold medallist, Steve Frew. Steve enjoyed a 30 year career as an international gymnast, having devoted himself completely to the sport from the age of six and representing Scotland and Great Britain over 100 times, performing in 30 countries around the world.

Twice competing for GB at the World Championships, the pinnacle of Steve’s five Commonwealth Games appearances for Team Scotland came at Manchester 2002 where, competing in the Men’s Rings he made history by winning the first Commonwealth Games gold medal in Gymnastics for Scotland.

Over to Steve…

Childhood 

Growing up in Grangemouth in the 1970s as a mixed-race child had its challenges. Although a warm and welcoming community, when your skin colour is a different shade to the majority, you stand out. I definitely stood out from the crowd, but spent most of my early years trying to fit in with everyone else.

I was blessed to be gifted in body movement and agility. I could run fast, I could climb high, I could jump, balance and had so much hyperactive energy my Mum had to find a way to channel that. I loved the thrill of flying through the air, of balancing and body movement, and I knew quite early on that I wanted to be an acrobat.

I aspired to be like my heroes, Muhammad Ali was the biggest sports star on the planet at that time, strong, powerful, handsome, and a powerful and popular black-hero, who lived his life with purpose. He was a great champion, I wanted to be like Muhammad Ali.

My Mum thought Gymnastics would be a way I could channel my excess energy, and in 1979 at six years old my parents enrolled me for the Grangemouth Gymnastics Club. Under the mentorship of my first coach and former Great Britain gymnast Jim Bennie, I swiftly progressed. At eight years old, while competing at the East of Scotland Championships, I was spotted by the Scottish Men’s Gymnastics coach Gordon Forster and invited to trial for the Scotland squad.

At 10 years old I represented Scotland in my first international competition, and in the same year became the Under 12 Scottish Champion. From that time on I was the Scottish Champion in every age group, and eventually the Scottish Senior Champion eight consecutive times.  At 14 years of age I achieved a place in the Great Britain Gymnastics Team, competing in my first Great Britain international in France at 15 years of age.

My Time Representing Team Scotland

Gymnastics was not a sport selected for the main 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. However Scotland held a “Commonwealth Gymnastics Championships” at Coasters Arena in Falkirk during 1986. As a 13 year old I was a part of the medal presentation team, holding the medals on the saltire cushions, for the dignitaries to present the medals. Just three years later, I would be a competitor representing Team Scotland at my first Commonwealth Games!

Auckland 1990

At sixteen years old, I was chosen to represent Scotland at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand. Still being at school I was the youngest member of the entire Scottish team.

We left for N.Z a few days after the New Year in January 1990. The weather in Scotland bitterly cold at that time of the year, however preparing to arrive in Auckland during their summertime would prove challenging. I would miss my exam prelims at Grangemouth High School that January although, wishing me good-luck, my teachers assured the exams would be awaiting on my return.

David Webster led the Scottish team as our “Chef de Mission” for the two days of flying time to the other side of the world. Gordon Forster, the team gymnastics coach, led our conditioning and flexibility sessions up and down the aisles of the aeroplane as we travelled.

We spent two weeks with a ‘host family’ from the Auckland Caledonian society to acclimatise before entering the athletes’ village. During our hosting experience I tasted a kiwi fruit for the first time, and our team were visited by Elaine Smith who played “Daphne” from the TV soap “Neighbours”. Elaine was supporting Team Scotland, as she was born in Ayrshire.

The greatest highlight of these games for me was the opening ceremony experience. Mt Smart Stadium was the venue, and I remember feeling great joy but overwhelmed as Team Scotland were cheered as we proudly paraded in our kilts in the presence of the Queen and Prince Philip.

I achieved the highest place of the Scotland gymnastics team and 16th position overall. I enjoyed an extended 17th birthday on the 6th February 1990 as we flew through different time zones before arriving home in Scotland.

Victoria 1994

The 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria Canada was my second appearance for Team Scotland, and I qualified for two gymnastics finals: Pommel Horse – achieving 8th place and High Bar – achieving 5th place. Having achieved two finals at the Commonwealth Games, and only two places behind a bronze medal, I was ignited by a spark of hope that perhaps it may just be possible, one day, to win a Commonwealth Games medal.

Kuala Lumpur 1998 – Disappointment

I was selected as the Gymnastics team captain for Kuala Lumpur but I was disappointed with my results at these Games. I found it very challenging to compete in the humidity of Malaysia, achieving 13th place overall. The greatest memory was the opening ceremony where again Team Scotland were assembled, proudly wearing our tartan kilts. The atmosphere outside the stadium was incredible, thousands of locals who were not able to secure a stadium ticket for the opening ceremony had created a “tunnel” lining up along the streets generating such a jubilant atmosphere that almost overtook the atmosphere inside the stadium. It was wonderful to experience!

Manchester 2002 – Greatest Moment

In the lead up to Manchester 2002 I was based in London and working as a fitness- instructor, full-time work and part – time gymnastics training. This period proved very challenging, balancing financial and family health issues whilst preparing for a Commonwealth Games. My personal coach Tan Jia En, and Team Scotland Gymnastics Lead Ian Whyte were able to provide fantastic support of which I am grateful.

It was during this period in the build up to the Commonwealth Games that I experienced the greatest person growth, which would define who I was to become.

I remember walking into the 6000 capacity GMex Arena on the 29th July 2002 for the Men’s Gymnastics Rings final. I felt like a gladiator, calm but powerful, focused, prepared and ready to face my destiny. I was the 8th gymnast of eight finalists to compete, so had to wait patiently until it was time to perform.

After years of preparation, finally my time had come. I took a deep breath, signalled to the judge I was starting my routine, and then I was lifted up onto the Rings to begin.

I scored 9.462 points for my performance on the Rings, a joint first-place with Herodotos Giorgallas of Cyprus was awarded, winning Scotland’s first Gymnastics gold medal in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

After winning Gold, I remember attending a worldwide media press conference, before being paraded outside the Team Scotland central Manchester hotel, feeling at home as I was flanked on both sides by proud highland Pipers, celebrating the historic win. The evening brought a studio interview with Hazel Irvine and John Inverdale for BBC Sport, and it was so humbling to meet Michael Johnson who offered his sincere congratulations. A week of media was coordinated by Paul and Katriona Bush, with our other Games Medallists. It was also a great pleasure to have an “Athletes Village” lunch with our then First Minister, and one of Team Scotland’s greatest supporters, Lord Jack McConnell.

It was an honour to be a Team Scotland flag bearer for the closing ceremony with Sir Chris Hoy and Craig McLean MBE. Fond memories of holding the saltire as the heavens opened during the rainy Manchester 2002 closing ceremony. We travelled back to Scotland on the Virgin sponsored train, and arrived back in Glasgow Central station to the awaiting media, press and the many Team Scotland supporters!

Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games

Melbourne 2006 was my fifth and final appearance for Team Scotland where I was again selected as the Team Scotland gymnastics captain. I qualified once again for the Rings final which was to be my final Rings performance, after which I retired from gymnastics.

After the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Dame Louise Martin invited me to join the 2014 bid team on a seven day visit to the Caribbean to promote the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bid. I was only too happy to accept! Dame Louise, bid director Derek Casey, project manager Mike McNally and myself presented the Glasgow 2014 bid proposal to the Caribbean. We travelled to six countries, over 12 flights all in eight days … what an experience!

Glasgow 2014 to Now

Retiring from competing didn’t mean that my connection with the Commonwealth Games stopped, I was part of Glasgow 2014 as part of the Glasgow 2014 Athletes Commission, was a BBC Scotland Gymnastics/ sports event commentator for the Games and was a Glasgow 2014 Athletes’ Village Chieftain, welcoming countries and delegations as they arrived at the G2014 Athletes’ Village.

As well as continuing speaking, commentary, mentoring and fitness projects, I’m now leading philanthropy and mentoring for SportsTech Global Conference 2021, a global event fusing cutting-edge technology, sports and philanthropy in London in 2021. It’s something I’m passionate about, raising capital/funds for good causes through philanthropy and changing lives around the world.

I have been very blessed with so many different and unique experiences in my lifetime. When I found gymnastics as I child, finally I was good at “something” and I stayed committed to that “something” to see how far I could push it.  Sport taught me about discipline and work-ethic, success and failure. It taught me about positive-thinking and mental strength. Sport gave me a focus, something to aim for. But I think the greatest lesson, that sport taught me is to believe in myself.

It took me four Commonwealth Games appearances to win the historic gold medal. I failed to make the podium at three Games. However, I always knew “I was more than I was achieving”. I had to believe that I could be the first person to win a gymnastics gold medal for Scotland, even when no one had achieved that before. When I was standing on the podium in Manchester in 2002, having created sporting history for Scotland, I realised that it does not matter where you come from, or about your background, or your previous circumstances in life. Focus on what you can do with what you have already got, then that will get you to where you want to be.

After all … when you’re on the Rings, eight feet off the ground and you have two straight somersaults with two twists to complete before safely landing back on your feet … then you have to stay focused on the task at hand!

Copyright Steve Frew October 2020

The daily schedule for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has been released today (Friday 16 October 2020), with the organisers confirming which sports will be held on each of the 11 days of competition and urging fans to sign-up for ticket updates, as planning for the Games accelerates.

The first day of competition is packed with action and is set to feature an impressive 14
different sports. This includes Basketball 3×3 at the recently announced venue at Smithfield
in the centre of Birmingham, Artistic Gymnastics at Arena Birmingham, and Hockey and
Squash, which will take place at the University of Birmingham, unveiled last month as a major
partner for the Games.

Women’s cricket T20, added to the programme in August last year, will be also begin at
Edgbaston Stadium on Friday 29 July and the aquatics programme will start on the same day
with the swimmers getting the action underway at the brand new Sandwell Aquatics Centre,
which is currently under construction.

Cycling, Team Scotland’s most successful sport at Gold Coast 2018 with four gold, four silver and two bronze medals, also begins on Day 1, with Track Cycling first up at Lee Valley Velopark. The NEC Arena will be a hive of activity on the first day of competition, as Badminton, Boxing, Netball and Table Tennis get underway.

The Games, the largest sports event to be held in UK since the 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games, will feature 19 sports, with eight para sports integrated into the
programme, creating the biggest para sports offering in Commonwealth Games history.

The unveiling of the new schedule confirms that there will now be two full weekends of
competition, a move which is hoped will allow more than one million spectators to attend the
biggest sporting event ever to be held in the West Midlands.

Birmingham 2022’s Chief Executive Officer, Ian Reid, said: “We’re extremely excited to
be unveiling the daily schedule as we know that this will make the Games much more real for
everyone, now that they can see exactly which sports will be taking place on each day.

“I’d like to thank all of the international and national governing bodies who have been
working closely with us to ensure that we created an exciting schedule which also provides
all competitors with the maximum period of recovery possible during what will be an action
packed summer of sport in 2022.”

The main Athletics programme at the redeveloped Alexander Stadium in the Perry Barr area
of the city, won’t begin until day five of the competition on 2 August, therefore allowing
additional recovery time for athletes who are also planning to compete at the World Athletics
Championships in Oregon, which takes place earlier in the summer.

The track and field action will take place across six days with the number of sessions yet to
be finalised. The marathon will be held earlier in the programme on 30 July, with the location
of the start and finish and the route expected to be confirmed in 2021.

The latest venues to be unveiled for the Games, West Park in Wolverhampton and St
Nicholas Park in Warwick, will host the road cycling events on Thursday 4 August and
Sunday 7 August, where as another stunning park in the region, Sutton Park in Birmingham,
will host the triathlon competition on day one (29 July 2022) and day three (31 July 2022).

Coventry Stadium, which is set to host three sports: Rugby Sevens, Judo and Wrestling, has a
packed agenda, as it will see sports action on eight out of 11 days of competition and the
NEC will be even busier, with Badminton and Table Tennis, two of the four sports occupying
halls at the exhibition centre, featuring on every single day of the Games.

The Games will finish with a flurry of medals on the final day of competition on
Monday 8 August, with Badminton, Diving, Hockey, Squash and Table Tennis all featuring,
before the Closing Ceremony brings Birmingham 2022 to a close the same evening.

View and download the full Sport Schedule here.

The full medal event programme for the Games, detailing exactly which events will
feature in each sport, and a more detailed version of the schedule, to include a session by session breakdown, will be unveiled in the coming months.

The Commonwealth Games Federation’s CEO, David Grevemberg, said: “My message
to Commonwealth Sport fans around the globe is simple: Get Excited!

“Now is moment to visit the Birmingham 2022 website and sign-up for updates around
tickets, volunteering and general opportunities to get involved in what will be one of the
greatest sporting spectacles the country has ever seen.

“This innovative and exciting sports schedule highlights exceptional partnership working
from so many stakeholders to ensure the UK stages a fantastic, celebratory summer of sport
in 2022.

“The level of collaboration with the likes of World Athletics and UEFA has been
unprecedented to ensure Birmingham 2022 retains a premium spot in an exciting period that
will include the UEFA Women’s EURO in England and World Athletics Championships in
Oregon.

“For athletes and spectators, Birmingham 2022 will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to be
part of something truly special for the city, the region, the country and the entire
Commonwealth. I hope all of you out there embrace this opportunity to be part of a Games
for everyone.”

To find out more, visit www.birmingham2022.com where you can also sign-up to receive the
latest updates about the Games and hear about tickets and volunteer opportunities first.

Reflecting on 10 years ago as we prepared to enter the heat of the Nehru Stadium tunnel for the Opening Ceremony of Delhi 2010, it seems a long time yet in other ways like yesterday. These, my first Games as Chef de Mission and the first Games in India, challenged and stimulated all senses and required more of athletes and staff than of any Games I’ve known, but in many ways they were also the most rewarding as the challenges were overcome.

​It’s fair to say the commitments made in 2003 in Jamaica, amidst the glamour of cricket stars and a Miss World, of a bigger and better Games weren’t quite delivered in the way we envisaged. After growing unease with progress on different site visits, a late monsoon, and a lack of timing and coordination in building the Games Village in particular, the arrival of our advance team was met with unfinished, flooded buildings still being lived in by the workers and stray dogs. Those in charge at the time had unfortunately misjudged their timings and had let down the athletes and Indian people, who were so looking forward to the Games. A promise of accommodation being ‘better than Beijing’ looked a long way away at that point.

We had a stark choice, to work together with organisers and other countries who were arriving to make the Games happen, or they would not be able to take place as hoped. Being next hosts in Glasgow in 2014 we knew the consequences of them not going ahead as planned were unthinkable, with the future of the Games at stake. Daily calls to the Board and Government back in Scotland kept everyone updated on the situations faced. Even now I am grateful for their unstinting support of our reports and backing of decisions and those of the High Commission on the ground.

Support was given for the decision to delay athlete departures to give us time and this was made possible with help from our carrier Emirates and we all worked to get the organisers to both accept the scale of the issues and act fast. Deputy Chef de Mission Vicky Strange and the rest of our staff literally rolled up their sleeves, put on the marigolds and scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed. It was not normally in the job description of the Village Manager, Head Doctor and Head Physio but, with their help and the rest of the small advance team and our volunteers, every room, and every toilet stained by paan, were scrubbed clean to get them ready for the athletes. The unified response from those teams who had arrived early and their High Commissions galvanised action which accelerated further when pictures of the extent of the issues faced were released after the first athletes should have arrived.

Suddenly the monsoon stopped and everything dried up, allowing the clean up to start in earnest. Glass for the balconies appeared, water for the hydrants outside our accommodation was turned on with direct input of the Chief Minister, keys for fire exits were located, and we had a village that was ready for the athletes – all we needed with them here. In the end only the beautiful village swimming pools ended up not being functional. My daily run of interviews with the world’s media eager for updates slowed, as did those fielded by CGS Chair Michael Cavanagh back in Scotland.  The best day for all of us who had worked so hard then arrived as we greeted the first athletes with their weary smiles after a long flight. They had privately and publicly trusted us to make the right decisions and we had delivered and it was now up to them and the other athletes of the Commonwealth to deliver on the field of play.

After that sticky, steamy, colourful Opening Ceremony we could focus at last on the sport and the next 10 days saw some amazing competition. In Team Scotland we witnessed many outstanding performances in conditions many athletes had not previously experienced.

The personal redemption of cyclist David Millar on the roads of Delhi as he rediscovered his sense of family with Scotland, as well as being a ‘citizen of the world’.  A stunning Tennis Doubles win from Colin Fleming and Jocelyn Rae was matched by Robbie Renwick and Hannah Miley fulfilling their potential in the pool, along with the emergence of Michael Jamieson who hinted at what was to come in London two years later. Shooters Jen McIntosh and Jonathan Hammond with remarkable medal hauls becoming our most successful male and female athletes at a single Games, with Jen taking over the mantle from her mum Shirley, as our greatest female shooter. There was also the unbridled roar of joy from young Weightlifter Peter Kirkbride to win silver, despair of boxer Josh Taylor winning the same colour but feeling he had an opportunity taken from him –later rectified in Glasgow four years later before becoming professional champion of the World. We saw the emergence of Eilidh Doyle on the track and also the agony of the Rugby Sevens missing a last second try opportunity that would have taken them into the medal rounds for the first time.

The Games ended with a Closing Ceremony where Glasgow 2014 stole the show as we invited the world to a next edition of the Games in Scotland and a massive party that followed. In the 10 years since, India has built on the Games legacy with venues now well used by locals.  Delhi was transformed before and afterwards on the back of the Games, with a new airport, flyovers and Metro system which our young Achieve athletes and mentors enjoyed riding as they soaked up their Delhi experience, preparing them for Games to come.

For me however, the abiding memory of 2010 was of relief and satisfaction at a job well done getting everyone to the starting line as well as the smiles, not only of those arriving athletes, but of the Indian people as they embraced the Games and all the countries attending. Delhi 2010 was a Games like no other and definitely an experience of a lifetime.

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

To mark the start of Black History Month we kick off a series of blogs from Team Scotland athletes with a fascinating look into the career of decathlete Jamie Quarry, bronze medallist at Manchester 2002. An inspirational reminder for young athletes that it takes years of effort to become an ‘overnight success’.

Over to Jamie…

“I was fortunate to enjoy a successful athletics career and will always be thankful for the opportunity to have been involved in something that I enjoyed as a hobby and a sporting career.

“I grew up in Crystal Palace, South East London and my athletics journey began when I started at Langley Park Secondary School, where I was inspired by passionate and dedicated PE teachers who motivated me as a young athlete and later helped shape my beliefs and values around my subsequent career in teaching.

“My PE teachers encouraged me to join my local athletics club, Blackheath Harriers, a vibrant and successful club within the local community. During my school years, I competed at six English Schools’ Track & Field Championships, winning three different events in different age groups (Junior Boys Triple Jump, Inter Boys 400m Hurdles and Senior Boys 110m Hurdles) and 33 years later, am just about hanging onto the Juniors Boys Triple Jump Championship Record of 13.86m set in 1987.

“My first major international competition, representing Great Britain in the Decathlon was at the European U20 Championships in Greece where I finished 7^th. Like many other junior athletes at this stage, I endured a slow transition period from a junior to senior athlete and found this difficult to cope with as progress stalled, self-doubt crept in and motivation declined. After a couple of low-key years and indecision about what to do next, I enrolled at Brunel University and immediately thrived being in an environment and training with international sportspeople across many different sports. By the end of my first year at Brunel, I had won the Scottish indoor Heptathlon, broken the Scottish 110m Hurdles record at the national championships and represented Scotland at my first Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, finishing 8^th, improving from 7018 to 7610pts.

“The next few years took an unexpected change in direction where I became part of the Great Britain Bobsleigh team, competing on the World Cup Circuit and at the World Championships in Calgary in the four-man event. These races still hold some incredible memories, including the biggest disappointment of my sporting career when I had a split second lapse of concentration and failed to get into the bobsled as it disappeared down the track without me and I walked back to the athletes area in tears at the feeling of letting my teammates down on the biggest stage.

“The Scottish Indoor Heptathlon record followed the following year in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, a uniquely memorable experience for different reasons, but turned out to be an anti-climax in terms of performance and competition where I was only the second Scot home, in 10^th place behind Alexis Sharpe.

“The disappointment of 1998 was soon forgotten when the following year when I broke the Scottish indoor Heptathlon (5640pts) and Decathlon (7739pts) record within a few months of each other. That was to be as good as it would get in terms of personal best scores but the highlight of the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games three years later in Manchester, 2002 was still to come. Winning Scotland’s first-ever decathlon medal at a Commonwealth Games was the highlight of my career and an unbelievably proud moment for everyone involved in contributing towards it. It was an occasion made more memorable, given that it was to be my last competition before retiring from athletics.

“Throughout my career, I was always incredibly proud to compete for Scotland and enjoyed competing regularly for Falkirk Victoria Harriers in domestic competitions. It was an honour to be made athletics team captain at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and ranks alongside being asked to address the CGF General Assembly in Sri Lanka on behalf of Scotland’s Commonwealth Games Federation delegation successful bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. This culminated in being part of the Queen’s Baton Relay at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which was a wonderful personal experience and a privilege to witness first-hand, the delivery and success of the promised games.

“Since retiring from athletics, I have continued to remain physically active, through coaching, delivering on education courses, team managing and competing in challenging sports events. I challenge myself in road running races and more recently, triathlons up to and including ironman distances. I qualified as a PE teacher whilst at Brunel University and am currently Subject Leader for PE at a school in Lancaster where I have been for the past 12 years.

“Whilst there will always be things that I would have liked to have achieved or done differently, my years involved in athletics have afforded me so many opportunities for which I am enormously grateful. There were many years when I didn’t record personal bests or improve my overall combined events scores, achieve qualifying marks or gain selection for competition I had set out to compete in. It didn’t always go to plan but I’m glad that I stuck at it and continued to show character and resilience when things weren’t going well.

“The bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester was a combination of years of effort, perseverance and good fortune and my advice to any aspiring young athlete would be: Success doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient. Be persistent. Believe in the process and most importantly, believe in yourself.”

On National Sporting Heritage Day we look back over 90 years of the Commonwealth Games and ten things that have changed from the first Commonwealth Games in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada to the modern Games of today.

Just as today’s world would be almost unrecognisable to the pre-World War II, pre-moon landing, pre-internet generation of competitors at Hamilton 1930, so would today’s sporting scene be equally alien with a 90 year jump in technology, rule changes and inclusion.

1. The Name

Competitors in 1930 lined up for the British Empire Games and the name has gone through several revisions to become the Commonwealth Games:

1930 to 1950 – British Empire Games

1954 to 1966 – British Empire and Commonwealth Games

1970 to 1974 – British Commonwealth Games

1978 onwards – Commonwealth Games

2. The Scale

The first Games in Hamilton saw 400 competitors from 11 nations compete in just six sports: Aquatics, Athletics, Boxing, Lawn Bowls, Rowing and Wrestling. The most recent Games held in Gold Coast, Australia in 2018 saw 4,426 athletes from 71 nations and territories compete in 18 sports.

3. Parity for Women

In 1930 the only sport open to women was Aquatics with five Swimming and two Diving events on offer. Athletics events were added in 1934 (with nine events to the men’s 21) with other sports and events gradually added each Games. Gold Coast 2018 was the first Games to have equal medal events for men and women while Birmingham 2022 will actually have more medal events for women, with the introduction of Women’s T20 Cricket.

4. Team sports

Competitors at Hamilton 1930, just as today competed for their country, but beyond the Rowing teams and relay events, the 1930 Games were a strictly individual affair.  Traditional team sports such as Hockey, Netball, Cricket and Rugby 7s were first introduced in 1998.

5. Starting Blocks in Athletics

At the time of the first Commonwealth Games the use of starting block in Athletics was seen as cheating. The IAAF only sanctioned starting blocks for use in competition in 1937, before which they were seen as an unfair use of technology. Competitors would instead carry a trowel to dig themselves two divots to start from. With the interruption to the Games caused by World War II, the first Games to see use of starting blocks was Auckland 1950.

6. Queen’s Baton Relay

Now an integral part of the Games, the Queen’s Baton Relay was first introduced in 1958 when 664 runners carried the Baton from London to Cardiff. This relay, conveying the Queen’s message, has grown to include all nations and territories of the Commonwealth on its journey to the Opening Ceremony of each Games. Kuala Lumpur 1998 was the first Queen’s Baton Relay to travel outside the host nation, with Melbourne 2006 the first to visit every nation and territory competing in the Games.

7. Para-Sport Inclusion

From no Para-Sports events in 1930, the Commonwealth Games is now the only major multi-sport Games to fully integrate Para-Sport events into the programme. As a precursor, the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, held in the country hosting the Commonwealth Games for able-bodied athletes, was held from 1962 to 1974. These Games were mainly for athletes with spinal injuries or polio and were an important step in the Paralympic sport movement. The Victoria 1994 Games saw a small number of exhibition events alongside the main programme but the 2002 Games in Manchester saw for the first time at any multi-sport event in the world, a limited number of full medal events for elite athletes with a disability, in a fully inclusive sports programme. This has continued ever since with the number of events growing substantially and Gold Coast 2018 hosting the largest Para-Sport programme in the history of the Games with 38 disciplines across seven sports.

8. Medals and Mascots

Medal presentations at the 1930 Games looked a little different to today as competitors received their medals in presentation boxes. It wasn’t until Perth 1962 that medals with a neck chain were introduced.

The first Commonwealth Games to have an official mascot was Edmonton 1978 as the Canadians introduced Keyano the Grizzly Bear to the world. Attempts had been made eight years earlier to create one for Edinburgh 1970 following the success of the 1966 World Cup Willie mascot, and drawings were produced for a kilted haggis character with the working name of Wee Mannie. Plans were dropped for 1970, but in later years Scottish Games mascots Mac the Scottie Dog in 1986 and Glasgow 2014’s Clyde, now Team Scotland’s official mascot, proved a hit with the public. In fact Clyde, designed by schoolgirl Beth Johnson, created headlines by selling out during the Games with around 50,000 of the cuddly toys sold.

9. Swimwear and Strokes

All Swimming competitors in the 1930 Games would have worn full body swimsuits. It wasn’t until 1935 that topless swimsuits for men were worn for the first time during an official competition.

The Butterfly did not exist as a stroke at the 1930 Games. In 1934 David Armbruster refined a method to bring the arms forward over water in breaststroke. While this “butterfly” technique was difficult, it brought a great improvement in speed. In 1935, Jack Sieg, a swimmer, developed a technique involving swimming on his side and beating his legs in unison similar to a fish tail, and modified the technique afterward to swim it face down. Armbruster and Sieg combined these techniques into a variant of the Breaststroke called Butterfly. By 1938, almost every Breaststroke swimmer was using this Butterfly style, yet this stroke was considered a variant of the Breaststroke until 1952, when it was accepted as a separate style with its own set of rules.

10. Units of Measurement

All events at the 1930 Games were measured in imperial distances: yards, feet and inches. Edinburgh 1970 was the first Games to use metric measurement, now standard across international competition.

In celebration of the successful Team Scotland Stars Awards, which saw a huge range of inspiring nominations and thousands of votes in online polls, Mark McGuire and Helping Hands Edinburgh have been named the recipients of special Judges’ Choice awards for their efforts over the lockdown period.

First launched in June of this year, Team Scotland Stars recognised those going above and beyond to help others through the Coronavirus pandemic, with a series of monthly awards which garnered huge support from the Scottish public. Each month a panel of judges whittled down the nominations to just four finalists in Individual and Group / Organisation categories, with the final decision coming down to a public vote.

The Judges’ Choice awards recognise two finalists whose achievements and dedication struck a chord with the panel over the three months.

In the Individual category this was Mark McGuire, a University of Stirling student and former Mountain Bike Cross Country athlete, who raised over £29,000 for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) in memory of his best friend Ben Forsyth who passed away in 2018. He took on the incredible challenge of running 30 marathons in 30 days (a staggering 786 miles of running, taking just over 125 hours).  Mark initially aimed to raise £500 and increase awareness for CRY, far surpassing his target. The money he raised will allow young adults and athletes to get screened for heart conditions they may not know they have.

He said: “It was amazing to raise so much money and awareness for Cardiac Risk in the Young, a charity very close to me. I never thought I’d raise nearly that amount! The support throughout the month was insane which kept me running and smiling. For sure the challenge was very tough physically and mentally though, with week one of the challenge being a shock to the body! My feet and knees did not enjoy week one. It means so much to me raising money for CRY which can fund heart screenings and support the charity.”

In the Group/Organisation category it was Helping Hands Edinburgh’s huge impact on their local community that caught the judges’ eye. Their People’s Free Food Program during the Covid-19 pandemic has delivered thousands of free cooked meals, survival packs of non-perishable food and toiletries, fresh fruit & veg boxes and recipe packs, providing people in housing schemes across Edinburgh with the means to cook nutritional meals. Free online keep fit classes and mental health videos, plus a Helping Hands Sports Club via the Strava App, are helping people to stay active. They have also delivered hundreds of new bikes to kids in need throughout Edinburgh, as well as running a recycle a bike initiative, supporting staying active and making healthy life choices.

Jim Slaven, Helping Hands Co-Founder said: “Thank you so much to Team Scotland and the judges for recognising the incredible hard work of our volunteers. Helping Hands strategy, which is based on creativity and collective action, continues to grow and deliver remarkable results in communities across Edinburgh. As Scotland’s biggest all-volunteer organisation, and rejecting all state funding, it is the time and effort of our volunteers that are central to our approach. So it is wonderful to see the positive outcomes we are delivering being recognised in this way.”

Paul Bush OBE, Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “Our two Judges’ Choice winners stood out for their incredible commitment to helping others through difficult times and the recognition is truly deserved. A huge well done to all our other winners, finalists and nominees across the three months of these awards. They have highlighted just a snapshot of the ongoing support from athletes, clubs and organisations to individuals and communities in need across Scotland. It’s been inspiring to see the Scottish sporting community rising to the challenge in these unprecedented circumstances. These examples show just how important sport is in making a difference, not only to individuals, but to the fabric of Scottish life and how vital it is that that sport at all levels not only survives but thrives as we enter a new stage.”

Falkirk Junior Bike Club and Kevin Brooks from Nairn Boxing Club were named the first ever winners of a Team Scotland Stars award back in June, both inspiring others to stay active through the new reality of lockdown. FJBC’s impressive fundraising activities for a local hospice and innovative Cycling Passport scheme gave them the nod, while all were inspired by former Scots Guard Kevin, who kept training going for his boxers while caring for his autistic son, as well as using his own experiences battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to help others.

In July, Stenhousemuir FC topped the poll after coordinating one of the largest community initiatives in Scotland, still ongoing, involving almost 200 volunteers and providing support to 350 vulnerable households every week. In July’s Individual category Cartha Queens Park’s first team coach Thomas Davidson took the plaudits for his innovative ways of ensuring all players and club members were kept involved and engaged.

Gymnastics led the way in August with Beacon Rhythmic Gymnastics Club and Chris Chalk from Central Gymnastics Academy sweeping the top spots in group and individual categories respectively. Beacon impressed with their emphasis on the health and well-being of all their members, as well as a series of virtual competitions attracting entries from across Scotland as well as further afield, while Chris’s dedication and creativity stood out in building a new normal online and outdoors for members and non-members alike when facilities closed.

Once current restrictions have been lifted, all Team Scotland Stars winners will be invited to a Team Scotland event where they will presented with their award and receive the recognition they deserve.

In recognition of over 50 years outstanding service to sport, the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS), Joan Watt has been awarded life membership of CGS.

Paul Bush OBE,CGS Chair, in confirming the award commented that it was well deserved recognition for a lifetime of service as an advisor, deliverer and mentor to the wider sporting community.

CGS Honorary Medical Advisor and chartered physiotherapist, Joan first provided volunteer support at the Commonwealth Games as a Village Physiotherapist in 1970, subsequently serving Scottish Commonwealth Games teams in physiotherapy roles at each Games until 2002, including as Joint Head Physiotherapist in 1998.  Melbourne 2006 saw her step into a new role as Shooting Team Manager, a position she also took on for Delhi 2010. 

The award came as a welcome surprise and Joan said she was highly honoured and still taking the news in. “I still can’t really believe it’s true, I think it’s wonderful.”

“If someone asked me which was my favourite Games I’d have to say I loved every single one because it was great, people were so pleasant and I made friends all over the place. It’s given me the feeling that I can enjoy working and helping people do what they want to do, which as a physiotherapist is what you want.

“It’s wonderful to keep the connection to Commonwealth Games Scotland because it’s meant so much to me over the years, it’s been so good and an important part of my life.”

Appointed to the Commonwealth Games Scotland Board in 2003 as Honorary Medical Adviser, she was the first non-Doctor to take this post, stepping down this year with term limits in place.  Also serving as Vice Chair of the Medical Group for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Bid, Joan was a member of the Medical Advisory Group for Glasgow 2014.

Beyond the Commonwealth Games, Joan has also served as lead physiotherapist at Olympic Games, World and European Championships for Athletics and Shooting, as well as a number of other sports. She is a former Chairperson of Scottish Athletics and was its first female President.  Instrumental in establishing the British Sports Massage Association, Joan helped set up the Chartered Physiotherapists in Massage Therapy professional network and has been active in Anti-Doping education and testing for many years.

Gymnastics led the way in August’s Team Scotland Stars awards with Beacon Rhythmic Gymnastic Club and Chris Chalk from Central Gymnastics Academy sweeping the top spots in group and individual categories respectively.

First launched in June of this year, Team Scotland Stars is a monthly award to recognise those going above and beyond to help others through the Coronavirus pandemic. The response to the awards has been overwhelming with inspiring nominations and thousands voting in the online polls.

From an impressive list of deserving nominations, Beacon Rhythmic Gymnastics Club topped the public vote in the Group/Organisation category ahead of runners-up Edinburgh Hockey Club, Scottish Squash and a quartet of former Scotland rugby internationals who took to their bikes to raise money for charity.

Beacon have impressed throughout lockdown with their emphasis on the health and well-being of all their members. The club was quick to organise zoom sessions inclusively for novice, development and squad gymnasts as well as fun challenges, like recreate the fashion photo and recreate the gymnastics pose, which has been a huge emotional support with training facilities shut since March.

When the usual summer camp was not physically possible, they gave the replacement real meaning by holding a summer series of online zoom competitions. This also allowed the girls to see their friends, not just within their own club but from rhythmic clubs across Scotland. One of the competitions even attracted entries from England and Russia.

In the Individual category it was Cetral Gymnastics Academy head coach Chris Chalk who took the public vote and August’s Team Scotland Stars award.

Chris has worked tirelessly to help create a new normal for both members and non-members of Central Gymnastics Academy in Stirling, helping keep gymnasts and their family members stay active during lockdown. He came up with over 100 daily challenges to keep gymnasts motivated, developed weekly team meets via zoom so that gymnasts and parents could meet up and chat virtually and held four zoom classes weekly which saw over 140 gymnasts from all over Scotland, and as far away as Manchester, enjoy physical activity while they were unable to leave their house.

Chris also organised a virtual competition where gymnasts sent in home videos of their routines which Chris then sent to judges to be scored, as well as editing all the videos together and streaming the event on zoom for parents, gymnasts and family members to watch. Having also run outdoor sessions for 125 gymnasts, all free of charge, the club is now celebrating being back in the gym with government guidelines now allowing facilities to reopen. His dedication gave him the nod over runners-up Ross Ferguson, Rhoda Yaramoudi and Rod & Pauline Smith.

Huge congratulations to our winners and to all our finalists and nominees, it’s amazing to see the good work being done by the Scottish sporting community in the face of these unprecedented circumstances.