This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Sport Summit at Stirling
12/09/2006
A special Sport Summit took place in Stirling today with people from across the whole spectrum of Scottish sport gathering to debate the best way forward for the nation, both in terms of success on the world stage and encouraging more people to participate at all levels.
First Minister Jack McConnell said:
"The time I spent at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne was truly inspiring. There was a real buzz about the Scottish team and about Scotland. It showed that although we are small country, we can compete and succeed on the world stage.
"People like David Carry, Caitlin McClatchey, Kenny Anderson all performed incredibly well. It was absolutely clear to me then that we had to build on that success. We had to redouble our efforts to get more people playing sport and to find and nurture medal winners of the future. The kind of people who will be the heroes at the 2014 Games we hope to stage in Glasgow.
"That's why I set up the Sports Summit and that's why it will be so important. It's our chance to listen to athletes and administrators from across the whole spectrum of Scottish sport. It's their chance to tell us what we need to do better - how we can get more people playing all types of sport, from grass roots level up right up to the elite sportsmen and women. And it's a chance for us all to continue to work together to ensure the long term success of Scottish sport."
Before the summit, the First Minister and Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson met a group of young swimmers, including Kirsty Balfour, silver medal winner at the European Swimming Championships, on the poolside at the National Swimming Academy at Stirling University.
Double Olympic sailing gold medallist Shirley Robertson also attended the summit to give the opening address along with the First Minister.