This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Glasgow coaches Malawi children
04/01/2007
Glasgow and Malawi are to join forces to help the African country make the most of sport with the help of a £25,000 grant from the Executive's International Development Fund.
Glasgow School of Sport (GSOS) at Bellahouston Academy, a national centre of excellence, is to provide coaching sessions and athletic equipment for 15 schools around Lilongwe in central Malawi.
Then it will host two-week intensive athletics scholarship in Glasgow for six Malawian school pupils showing the greatest potential, and two Malawian coaches.
Minister with responsibility for International Development, Patricia Ferguson said:
"The bonds between Scotland and Malawi are very strong. This link with a Glasgow school is yet another example of how Scottish expertise is being exported to help Malawi develop.
"This is a national effort in both countries - with schools, hospitals, health services, community groups and families building genuine partnerships that will be life enhancing for all of us."
Alan McIlvain, Acting Director of GSOS, said:
"We are delighted to receive funding from the Scottish Executive for this unique sporting exchange between Scotland and Malawi.
"We will exchange coaching skills to help encourage the development of sports coaching in Malawi.
"Following this exchange we will look to maintain and expand the links between Glasgow School of Sport and the Malawi schools that participate."
The GSOS is a national centre of sporting excellence, offering athletes of school age the opportunity to specialize in one of five key sports - Athletics, Badminton, Gymnastics, Hockey and Swimming.
It has been developed by Glasgow City Council and is funded by the Executive's Education Department and welcomes applications from pupils from throughout Scotland.
Sports pupils benefit from a range of support services including: high performance coaching within the school day, access to local specialist sports facilities, competition and training camps, fitness testing, nutritional and lifestyle support.