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Today, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) announced the 44 athletes who have been selected to represent Scotland at the third Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India 11-18 October 2008.

Pune 2008 is the first Youth Games to which all 71 Commonwealth countries have been invited to take part with 351 medals to be won across nine sports (athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling). Scotland will compete in eight out of nine sports (not tennis).

As a result of the global expansion of the Games, each country has been allocated a fixed number of places and qualification standards were set accordingly. In a number of sports more athletes met the standards than there were places available.

Based on previous Youth Games results, it is anticipated that many of the Scottish athletes, all of whom are under 18 years of age, who compete and win medals in Pune will go on to compete for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow 2014 and for Team GB in London 2012 when they should be at their competitive peak.

Amongst the team members announced today are some familiar names with strong links to Commonwealth Games success. The McColgan dynasty lives on, with daughter Eilish qualified for the 1500m, whilst Lynsey Sharp, daughter of Commonwealth Games gold medallist and representative Cameron and Carol Sharp will compete in the 800m. In smallbore shooting, Jennifer McIntosh is the daughter of multiple Commonwealth Games medallist Shirley and father Donald a representative in two Games.

Making the team announcement today, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of CGS said:

"Many congratulations to our 44 strong team. I am confident that we have selected an outstanding Youth Games Team to compete in Pune, with the standards continuing to rise with every Games cycle.

"Whilst winning medals is important, the major benefit of the Commonwealth Youth Games is exposing young athletes to this level of competition in a multi-sport environment. It is the ideal preparation event for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow in 2014."

Stewart Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport said:

"As they fly the flag for Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India, these young athletes carry the hopes and good wishes of a nation.

"Getting this far, they have each demonstrated outstanding effort, and dedication in pursuit of personal excellence.

"The Commonwealth Youth Games will provide competition experience and, hopefully, a stepping stone for our young stars as they eye the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010, and on home soil, in Glasgow in 2014.

"This Government has great ambitions for sport in Scotland. That's why, through sportscotland, we are investing millions to increase participation and nurture the sporting stars of tomorrow."

Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland said:

"This is a marvellous development opportunity for these young people to gain experience competing at a large global multi-sport event at an early age. It is fantastic to see the length and breadth of Scotland represented from Troon to Aberdeen to The Isle of Islay. I am sure their experience at the Youth Games will inspire many of them to go on to compete successfully in future senior Commonwealth and Olympic Games."

Previous Youth Games medallists, swimmers Kirsty Balfour, Todd Cooper, Andrew Hunter, Robbie Renwick, Hannah Miley and gymnast Daniel Keatings, were amongst 12 Youth Games athletes who went on to compete and win medals in Melbourne in 2006 and this summer were selected for Team GB at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

The team is being supported by Clydesdale Bank and Steve Reid, Retail Director of Clydesdale Bank said:

"We recognise the dedication and commitment of these athletes and their significant achievement in being selected. We are proud to support the team in their endeavours and everyone at Clydesdale Bank wishes them all the best for October's games."

COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES, PUNE 2008 - SELECTED ATHLETES

Athletics (10)

Lisa Glover, Glenrothes

Caitlyn Mackie, Airth

Eilish McColgan, Carnoustie

Myra Perkins, Falkirk

Beth Potter, Bearsden, Glasgow, WSIS

Lynsey Sharp, Edinburgh, TFIS

Daniel Carlin, Barrhead

Chris O'Hare, West Linton

Calum Innes, Bearsden, Glasgow

Callum Sharp, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow

Badminton (4)

Martin Campbell, Edinburgh, ESIS

Angus Gilmour, Troon, WSIS

Craig Pollock, Longniddry, ESIS

Paul Van Rietvelde, Longniddry, ESIS

Boxing (6)

Sean Finney, Kirkcaldy

Steven McAllister, Aberdeen

Robert McKee, Fauldhouse

Jonathan Slowey, Glasgow, WSIS

Ryan Smith, Glasgow

Josh Taylor, Prestonpans

Shooting (5)

Kay Copland, Banff

Catriona McGregor, Aberdeen, GIS

Jennifer McIntosh, Falkirk, CSIS

Rory McAlpine, Lasswade, Midlothian, ESIS

Ben Wilson, Islay, WSIS

Swimming (10)

Lucy Ellis, Dalgety Bay, ESIS

Sara Hamilton, Stonehaven

Megan Gilchrist, Bathgate, SIS

Robyn Mathews, Edinburgh, ESIS

Sally Wood, Edinburgh, ESIS

Ewan Johnstone, Edinburgh

Andrew Haslett, Edinburgh, SIS

Iain Scanlon, Shotts, ESIS

Daniel Scott, Glenrothes, SIS

Douglas Scott, Strathaven, WSIS

Table Tennis (2)

Craig Howieson, Edinburgh

Craig Hardie, Glasgow

Weightlifting (3)

Amy Hamilton, Glasgow

James Burley, Kilwinning

Dylan Scott, Kilwinning

Wrestling (4)

Gareth Jones, Old Kilpatrick

Keiran Malone, Cumbernauld

Craig McKenna, Clydebank

Connor Evans, Denny

Athletes supported by: Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS), West of Scotland Institute of Sport (WSIS), Central Scotland Institute of Sport (CSIS), East of Scotland Institute of Sport, Grampian Institute of Sport (GIS), Tayside and Fife Institute of Sport.

Staff (16)

Lisa Allan (Loanhead), General Team Manager Leslie Roy (Glasgow), Assistant General Team Manager Brent Deans (Edinburgh), Assistant Team Manager Dr Alastair Nicol (Dundee), Doctor Lindsay Thomson (East Linton), Physiotherapist Stephen Mutch (Edinburgh), Physiotherapist Rob Eyton-Jones (Edinburgh), Press Officer Hugh Murray (Helensburgh), Athletics Team Leader Diana Koleva (Glasgow), Badminton Team Leader David McAllister, (Aberdeen), Boxing Team Leader Kevin Smith (Liverpool), Boxing Team Coach Sinclair Bruce, (Linlithgow ), Shooting Team Leader Ian Wright, (Edinburgh), Swimming Team Leader Peter Stewart, (East Kilbride), Table Tennis Team Leader Frank Etherson, (Glasgow), Weightlifting Team Leader Volodymyr Gladkow, (Glasgow), Wrestling Team Leader

Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is the organisation responsible for selecting and preparing the team to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.

CGS is funded through sponsorship and fundraising activities, grant support from sportscotland (£110,000 for 2008) and an Endowment Trust Fund established by the Scottish Government following the 2002 Games. The Endowment fund has contributed £50,000 to Pune preparations.

The 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games Team is also being supported by Clydesdale Bank. In particular they have been funding an Athlete of the Month / Games competition which gives the winners cash awards to put towards their training.

Scotland hosted the inaugural Commonwealth Youth Games in Edinburgh in 2000 attended by 14 countries. Australia hosted the second Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo in 2004 attended by 22 countries.

In 2000 the Scottish Team won 32 medals including 3 gold.

In 2004 the Scottish Team won 52 medals including 12 gold.

Pune 2008 will be the third Commonwealth Youth Games and is the first Games to which all 71 Commonwealth countries have been invited to attend with some 1300 athletes competing. Scotland has therefore a smaller representation than at previous Youth Games.