Central Scotland MSP Christina McKelvie has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating the young athletes, swimmers, footballers and tennis players of ‘Team Lanarkshire’, on their outstanding performance at this year’s International Children’s Games in Athens. The team came home with an impressive medal haul of one gold, two silvers and four bronzes.

Christina said:
“Everyone in Scotland should be proud of this performance by Team Lanarkshire, which is why I have highlighted their achievement in the Scottish Parliament.

“As Scotland’s only representatives at the International Children’s Games, among 36 other countries, the team members had a lot riding on their young shoulders. They were acting as sports ambassadors, not only on behalf of their county but also for their entire nation. They succeeded brilliantly and deserve three cheers from us all.

“The excellent individual and team performances that secured medals are particularly to be commended, but the whole team’s participation at the Games shows that Scotland’s future sporting success is in very capable young hands, feet and legs. It bodes extremely well for when Lanarkshire comes to host the International Children’s Games in two years time.”

The full text of Christina McKelvie’s Scottish Parliament motion is:
Congratulations to Team Lanarkshire
That the Parliament congratulates Team Lanarkshire, Scotland’s only representatives at the International Children’s Games in Athens, on their magnificent tally of one Gold, two Silver and four Bronze medals; notes that the girls’ 4x100m relay team stormed home to win gold; further notes that the silver medal-winning boys’ football team only narrowly missed out on gold following a penalty shoot-out; further notes that East Kilbride athlete, Rachel Whittle, not only contributed to the gold medal relay performance, but also took silver in the individual 100m and bronze in the high jump; and believes that Rachel’s achievements along with those of Emma Brown and Ciaran Johnston from East Kilbride, Mhairi Hendry from Hamilton, Arlene Barr from Cambuslang, Darren Brownlie from Bellshill, Dean McLean from Carluke, Craig Moore from Uddingston, Jack Smith from Carfin, Anthony Brady from Glenboig, Ross Burnett and Calum Baxter from Airdrie, Euan Alston, Lynn Macarthur and Leanna Marshall from Cumbernauld, Jonathan Stuart from Blantyre, Rochelle Callan from Coatbridge, Emily Lauder from Bargeddie and Charlotte Walker from Bothwell reflect highly on the quality of Scotland’s young athletes and bode well for the success of the 2011 International Children’s Games when they take place in their home county of Lanarkshire.