| Badminton to benefit from Bank of Scotland deal |
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Bank of Scotland backs Scottish sporting stars as BADMINTONscotland and Bank of Scotland has today announced its sponsorship of BADMINTONscotland and scottishathletics as part of its continued commitment to supporting young Scottish sports stars. In January this year, Bank of Scotland, as part of Lloyds Banking Group, announced its partnership with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Part of its strategy for the partnership is to develop sport at a grass roots level. Working across Scotland with bodies such as scottishathletics and BADMINTONscotland, the renewed sponsorship programme will support a number of young athletes in both track and field and badminton, as both sports gear up for the wor Launching the partnerships today, Susan Rice, Managing Director of Lloyds Banking Group Scotland, said: “Bank of Scotland has been a long standing supporter of sport across Scotland and as part of our sponsorship programme for the next year, we are delighted to continue our support for scottishathletics and BADMINTONscotland. “We are committed to helping these sports develop young athletes right up to elite performer level, to achieve their dreams of winning medals and trophies at major championships. “Of course, sport isn’t just about the winning; it’s also about the taking part. That’s why we are also proud that our partnership helps to increase participation amongst young people in Scotland.”
scottishathletics Initiatives with scottishathletics include the Bank of Scotland Countdown Camps and Age-Group Championships. These play a major part for scottishathletics’ support for athletes aiming to take part at the London 2012 Games and at Glasgow 2014. scottishathletics chairman Frank Dick said: “We are delighted Bank of Scotland is continuing its valued relationship with scottishathletics. The broad scope for the sponsorship at once invests in our future by covering Age Group track and field and Countdown Camps. When it comes to sponsors, Bank of Scotland is ‘owning the podium’.” BADMINTONscotland In the next 12 months it is estimated that 10,000 young people will take part in badminton programmes associated with the sponsorship. The Bank of Scotland International Championships has emerged as the No.1 tournament on the Badminton Europe circuit over the last 10 years. Anne Smillie, Chief Executive of BADMINTONscotland, said: “Bank of Scotland is a key partner and without its help we couldn’t stage our renowned Bank of Scotland Play Badminton Carnivals across the country on the scale we do. More than 3,000 schoolchildren took part in the flagship Carnival at the Kelvin Hall during Championship week alone and we expect to m “It’s what makes the Championships unique as no other tournament combines elite play and a development initiative on such a massive scale. And it’s an example of a partnership working at its best.”
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ADDITIONAL QUOTES Susan Egelstaff, Scotland’s No. 1 badminton singles player, who won the women’s singles title at the Bank of Scotland International Championships for the first time in November 2009, said: “I am proud to be Bank of Scotland International champion. I have battled for a long time to win this title and I hope I can build on this victory as I look ahead to the Commonwealth Games in October and the Olympic Games in London in 2012.” Egelstaff, who won the Commonwealth bronze medal four years ago and is Britain’s highest-ranked women’s singles player at No.32 in the world as she chases her dream of Olympic qualification in 2012, added: “Bank of Scotland support, not just for the Championships but for the sport in general, is vital in encouraging more youngsters to take up badminton. If just one player comes through to enjoy the success I am now having in my career it will be worth it.” Kieran Merrilees, Scotland’s No.1 men’s badminton singles player, agrees with Egelstaff: “Bank of Scotland support is vital in developing more talent,” said the 20-year-old from Glasgow, twice Bank of Scotland Under-19 champion. “It’s a terrific way to get children interested but BADMINTONscotland couldn’t achieve this without Bank of Scotland backing.” Gordon Thomson, 2009 Scottish National champion, who has three times been Bank of Scotland Under-19 winner, added: “The Bank of Scotland Carnivals provide such a fun and safe environment for many of the youngsters to get a first taste of our sport. And at the Bank of Scotland International Championships they also get the added opportunity of seeing how the big names play the game and a chance to meet some of the top Scotland players.” |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 16 April 2010 ) | |||||
scottishathletics benefit from new deal
ld’s most high profile sporting events.
atch that figure at this year’s Championships in November.