Tag Archive for Sports Minister

Shona Opens New 3G Training Facility at Whitton Park

September 18, 2012 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Back L-R: Shona with Stewart Regan and Gordon Deuchars and young players at the new 3G training facility.

Shona Robison, Dundee City East MSP and Scottish Sports Minister, has hailed a Dundee Sports Club as a excellent example of leadership and co-operation which might form the model for more community sports hubs across the country.

Shona made the claim while helping to formally open a new astroturf training pitch at Whitton Park near Claypotts with Gordon Deuchars, chair of the Dundee East Community Sports Club and Stewart Regan, Chief Executive of the SFA, seen here with some young players.

A number of local clubs are involved in the DESC which has 1200 members and includes senior teams; Broughty United and Broughty Athletic as well as Ferry Athletic, Broughty Youths and Douglas Lads teams.

The project has benefitted from funding from the Scottish Football Partnership and money from Cashback For Communities scheme which uses money confiscated from criminals.

While helping to present awards to volunteers from the Saltire Scheme who have been involved with the DECSC, Shona praised the dedication and hard work of Gordon Deuchars and other committee members of the club who had brought this project to fruition in a highly professional manner.

The project had been an excellent example of leadership and co-operation and she considered that it might be a model for more of the 120 community sports clubs which the Scottish Government is committed to proving across the country.

MSP Involved in ‘Showcasing Scotland’ During The Olympics

August 1, 2012 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Shona Robison, Scotland’s Commonwealth Games and Sports Minister and Dundee City East MSP, has said that the London Olympics is a “huge opportunity to showcase Scotland to a global audience” and is in London as part of Scottish Government efforts to promote Scotland during the London Olympics.

Shona Robison said: “People and companies from all over the world are here in London to meet, interact and do business during the Olympics, and we want to maximise the opportunities of having representatives of all 204 Olympic countries in London.

“With representation from our enterprise, tourism, sport, creative and event agencies, Scotland House is hosting an eye-catching programme of formal and informal events, including promoting the best of our food, drink and music.”

Celebrities, including musician Nicola Benedetti, singer Emilie Sande and golfer Colin Montgomerie, have already given their backing to Scotland House, which has been set up in the UK capital during the sporting event.

Like the Scotland House that was staged at the previous two Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and Dehli, it is hosting a mix of formal events and receptions as well as providing a base for business meetings and the families of Scottish athletes competing at the Olympic Games.

Scotland House, a partnership between the Scottish Government, tourism body VisitScotland, EventScotland, enterprise agency Scottish Enterprise, arts body Creative Scotland and the sports body sportscotland, is in Pall Mall, close to both the British Business Embassy and the Scotland Office at Dover House.

Organisers of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have also had an input along with marketing bosses from both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Violinist Ms Benedetti said: “I’m delighted to be part of a team representing Scotland in showing London the best of what we have to offer during the Olympics this summer.”

 

Olympic Torch in Dundee

August 29, 2011 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Commonwealth Games and Sport Minister Shona Robison met up with local Olympic games hopeful Sian Bruce, who is Britain’s number two at skeet shooting, to get a closer-up look at the Olympic torch to its visit to Dundee.

Shona is pictured with Sian (left) and Sarah Cran of Bank of Scotland, who are sponsors of the Olympic Torch Tour, which takes place next summer.

Sian is hoping to be picked in the British squad for 2012.

Shona said: ‘Scotland’s going to have an important role in the torch relay and it’s important to get as many nominations as possible for people toc arry the Olympic flame around the country.”

Shona has previously nominated one of Britain’s top amputee speed walkers, Ronnie McIntosh, who is also from Dundee, to carry the torch as part of its Torch Tour in the run-up to the London Games.

 

Sports Minister Welcomes 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships Coming To Glasgow

May 24, 2011 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Scotland’s Sports Minister Shona Robison today expressed her delight that Glasgow’s has been confirmed to host the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastic Championships.

Shona Robison said: “Gymnastics is a fantastically popular sport in Scotland and I am delighted to see the success of this bid to bring the event to Glasgow – which was chosen over Paris and Orlando. The event will attract hundreds of gymnasts and inject millions of pounds into the local economy, and will be staged just a year after Glasgow plays host to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“Scotland has an enviable reputation for staging major sporting events and our country’s credentials will be further enhanced by this event.

“Not only will this bring elite athletes to Scotland it will act as inspiration for youngsters across the country to get active and develop their interest in sport.”

Local business leaders claimed this was real evidence of the legacy of the Commonwealth Games coming to Scotland in 2014 and will attract further investment.

The city secured the championships after three years of preparation and after the first two voting rounds, Glasgow was up against competitive bids from Orlando and Paris – the first round saw Orlando and Paris take 12 and 10 votes respectively – Glasgow got 14.

Sports Minister Strides Out for Macmillan Cancer Support

March 18, 2011 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Sports Minister Shona Robison today joined local children on a short walk through a Dundee park to show support for Macmillan Cancer Support’s fundraising activities.

The Dundee East MSP was joined by daughter Morag and Forthill school pupils Georgia and Kathryn Davidson at Den O’ Mains.

“Speaking at the event, Shona said: “I am strong supporter of Macmillan Cancer Support, which does such a lot of good work to help those with the disease, and their families.

“Over 2 million people are living with cancer in the UK.  Cancer brings many challenges – physical, emotional and financial. 

“I have previously undertaken sponsored hill climbs – the ‘Conquer a Corbett’ event and our parliamentary office has organised ‘Big Coffee Mornings’ a few times.

“I hope that we can encourage people to join one of the Macmillan sponsored walks or organise their own event with family, friends and colleagues. It’s a fun and active way to do your bit to support people affected by cancer.

“This year Macmillan have walking events planned across the UK, long and short, day and night, from town strolls to tough hikes.” 

Details of all the walks are on their website: macmillan.org.uk/walking

Minister Intervenes in Ski-Centre Closure Row

February 2, 2011 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Sports Minister Shona Robison has stepped in to try to prevent the closure of the UK’s only all-purpose cross-country ski centre, which opened in Aberdeenshire in 1992.

She has asked sportscotland to explore the financial assistance available to help secure the future of the Huntly Nordic Ski Centre.

While the Minister acknowledged that it was not normal practice to intervene in local decision-making, this was a case of national importance. She said: “The government fully recognises the importance of these two ski facilities to its users and to the development of snow sports in Scotland.

“Given the important role these facilities play, I have asked sportscotland to explore what assistance may be available.”

Sports Minister Hails Big Boost to Winter Sports

January 6, 2011 Shona Robison MSP One comment

Picture courtesy Scottish Government; (c) Peter Jolly.

Sports Minister Shona Robison took to the slopes of CairnGorm Mountain today [Wed 5th Jan] to celebrate the best ever early start to the Scottish season. During her visit, Shona Robison announced that the previous bumper season last year is estimated to have contributed £38 million to Scotland’s economy, but that the new season is looking like it might surpass even that.

Shona Robison said: “This winter sports season has got off to a fantastic early start and is looking like it will be a record-breaking year. All five of Scotland’s ski centres have opened early this year and between them have recorded an outstanding 77,000 skier days since the end of November.

“Because of this and the extensive spin-off income in each of the ski-ing areas for accommodation, sport equipment shops, catering and outdoor clothing, this will give a big boost to the Scottish economy.” 

Shona met the Cairngorm ski centre’s ski patrol as they keep the skiers safe on the snow and indulged in a bit of ski-ing herself during the visit.

 

Sports Champions Needed!

October 19, 2010 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments

The VoteforSport Campaign gained many new pledges today at the SNP Conference when Public Health & Sports Minister Shona Robison signed on the dotted line to pledge her support and called for MSPs and PPCs to champion the role of sport.

The campaign by the Scottish Sports Alliance has the backing of politicians of all parties and hopes to harness the power of an estimated 12,000 sports clubs in Scotland and an estimated 900,000 Scots who regularly participate in one or more sports, to promote the life-changing and nation-building value of sport.

MSP and PPCs pledge to recognise the unique role, value and potential of sport in Scottish society and upon my election to the Scottish Parliament I will act as a Scottish Sporting Champion throughout my term in Parliament.

In addition to this, the Scottish Sports Alliance is also asking members of the public to sign up to www.VoteforSport.com to demonstrate the importance and value of sport to Scottish society.

Sports Minister Robison, who has recently returned from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where she supported Team Scotland and also joined an initiative to encourage children in slum areas of East Delhi to take part in sport, said: “I have seen at first hand how sport can be a means of communication among all ages and all nations. It can build nations and unite peoples across the social divides but above all it can transform the lives of individuals.

“Sport is an activity, a fun pastime, a promotor of health but it is far more than that. It is something we can work towards to make each of us, our school, team, community and country the best we can be.

“Sport brings people together in common purpose as a team, it allows us to achieve. For many, it can provide meaningful goals for life which are otherwise missing.

“In the run up to the next election the SNP is calling on everyone across Scotland to work together to be part of a better Scotland.  Together we can make Scotland better and through sport we can make Scotland the healthier and stronger nation we all want it to be.

PICTURE: shows Kim Atkinson of Scottish Sports Association, Scotland rugby legend Scott Hastings – with Joe FitzPatrick MSP signing the VoteSport pledge and Shona Robison.

Shona Sees Sport Initiative for Delhi Children

October 8, 2010 Shona Robison MSP No comments

Dundee MSP Shona Robison as Minister of Sport, took part in a number of iniatives in East Delhi, during her Ministerial visit to the Commonwealth Games.  The Scottish Minister met her Indian counterpart, Dr MS Gill and discussed the need to foster permanent sporting and physical links between the two concurrent host nations.  The two Sports Ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on a youth sporting legacy which might involve a youth exchange to support esteem-building and leadership.

Shona said: “The Commonwealth Games provides us with a unique opportunity to inspire Scots to get healthier through increasing their physical activity. The Games 2014 should be used to empower and energise the host nation. Of course there will also be a physical legacy in the shape of new social housing in Glasgow’s east end.

“I was delighted to participate in some projects in East Delhi working with disadvantaged communities and saw for myself how sport can boost self-esteem. I hope to take home these lessons so that Scotland’s Commonwealth Games in 2014 can do more to inspire all the communities of Scotland.”

 

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