Mike Hay and sportscotland

Now here's something you may not know. Former National Curling Coach Mike Hay MBE is now a member of the Board of sportscotland. You will remember that Mike left the Scottish Institute of Sport in October 2006, after eight years, to join the British Olympic Association as Olympic Performance Manager for Winter Sports. He became a board member of the Scottish Institute of Sport in September 2007.

The Scottish Institute of Sport controversially 'merged' with sportscotland earlier this year. The original note about that is here.

Institute chairman Dougie Donnelly was 'stood down', and sportscotland chair Julia Bracewell also lost her job in the reorganisation. Louise Martin CBE, an existing sportscotland board member, was announced recently by the Scottish Executive as the new chair of sportscotland, a popular choice.

Louise is reported as saying, “I have enjoyed a long association with sportscotland both as a Board Member and in my capacity as Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland and believe the organisation has a significant role to play in driving Scottish sport forwards. I am delighted to have the opportunity to take up the position of Chair at this crucial time for the organisation, as it prepares to relocate to Glasgow and at the same time, ensuring it is well placed to lead the delivery of a sporting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

Mike Hay is on the Board of the new merged organisation. A couple of months ago Mike was asked along with Sir Bill Gammell and Louise Martin, former Scottish Institute directors, to take places on sportscotland's new Board of Directors. He has attended one meeting so far and is due up in Scotland at the end of the month for another.

He says, "It's obviously a challenging time with all the changes that the Scottish Government has made, but therein lies opportunities for all of us to make positive changes. Winning the bid for Glasgow Commonwealth 2014 will give huge focus for sport in Scotland in the interim period."

We wish Mike best wishes in this new challenge.

Talking of Mike brings the 2010 Olympics to mind. (What a link!)

Want to be in Vancouver? Tickets for the Men's and Women's curling competitions will be allocated to various National Olympic Committees who will contract a ticket agency in their own country to distribute these. Although tickets will not be available until October 8, 2008, registering an interest now is recommended. For information and tickets in Great Britain the contact is Sportsworld Travel, Windrush Court, Blacklands Way, Abingdon, OX14 1SY. Phone 01235 554844.

Paralympic Winter Games ticket package information should be obtained directly from the VANOC website (www.vancouver2010.com).

Top: Mike Hay in action in his days as National Coach. Photos by Bob.
Above: The Hillcrest stadium where the Olympic curling will be staged in 2010, under construction at the beginning of April this year. It is due to be completed by the autumn. When the games are over it will be turned into a community centre with a public library, skating rink and will be home to the Vancouver Curling Club. Photo by Hugh Stewart.