Louise Martin Named Commonwealth Games Federation Leader
The chairwoman of Scotland's national sports body has been appointed president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
The chairwoman of Scotland's national sports body has been appointed president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
As chief of Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS), Louise Martin led the successful bid for the 2014 Games before acting as vice-chairwoman of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee.
Previously CGF honorary secretary, she was elected president at a meeting in Auckland following a contest with Prince Tunku Imran of Malaysia, who has held the role for the last four years.
Ms Martin said: I am extremely proud and humbled to be elected as president of the CGF and it is my chance to give something back to the movement that means so much to me.
There is also so much more we can do to grow the profile of our great sporting movement across the world to ensure that its unique identity is valued and our Games attract the best Commonwealth athletes, sponsors and, critically, future host cities.''
Ms Martin has been chairwoman of sportscotland since 2008 and in 2003 was awarded a CBE for services to the Commonwealth Games.
Current CGS chairman Paul Bush said: Louise has worked tirelessly over many years to support the Commonwealth Games movement from both a Scottish and international perspective, and at the heart of this has always been a commitment to ensuring that everything that is done is in the best interest of the athletes, something which we all witnessed last year in Glasgow.
Scotland has always played an active role in the CGF and we are delighted that Louise will now have the opportunity to make an even greater impact on the development of the organisation and the Games as it seeks to address a number of key challenges for the future.''
Sportscotland chief executive Stewart Harris said: I have worked closely with Louise for many years and she has been a terrific chair for sportscotland, contributing a great deal to the development of sport in Scotland and across the Commonwealth.
It seems fitting that Louise was elected just ahead of the Commonwealth Youth Games, an event she was instrumental in creating, and as the first-ever female president of the CGF, Louise continues to be a trailblazer in sport.''