New Delhi: At a glance, they look like any other member of the Scotland squad that will be chasing glory at the Games starting today. But a short chat reveals who they really are and what they are here for. They are not the athletes who will add to their country’s medal tally at the Delhi Games. They are the next generation, with their eyes on glory on home soil in 2014.
These young athletes are part of a group of around 70 who will arrive in the national capital in batches over the next 10 days, with the aim of preparing themselves for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“They are part of our project called Achieve 2014. Commonwealth Games Scotland and Glasgow have selected a number of young and upcoming athletes who have the potential to win medals in four years’ time. The programme has been created to offer talented athletes and coaches the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience of a senior multi-sport environment, which will help their own preparations for success in 2014,” said Susie Elm, mentor of the team.
The trip is not just about watching a major event live. It is about getting used to the real pressure that elite athletes face in these conditions.
“We just want these youngsters to get acquainted with the kind of pressure an athlete faces in a competition of this level. We want to make them realise the importance of these Games. We want to give them the opportunity to know what it takes to be an international athlete of repute. An athlete does not necessarily become a winner just because of talent. Many other factors play a role, and we want them to learn that,” said Susie, who is here with the first batch of 17 athletes.
“The other groups will follow in the coming days,” she said.
The young members of the Achieve 2014 team were thrilled about the programme and said they hoped to go home rich in experience. “The magnitude of the occasion plays a big part in an athlete’s mind. Some rise to the occasion while others succumb to the pressure. We are all here to experience and see that. We want to get a feel for what we will face, and we will plan for our success so that we can deal with it and make the most of our opportunities on home turf,” said some of the youngsters in the Achieve 2014 group.
By Rakesh Jha
Indian Sports News
