Information Bulletin
07 April 2004
“Highland Institute of Sport supports Shetland sporting talent”
This week saw a visit to Shetland by Chris Hildrey, Manager of the Highland Institute of Sport, to explore the identification of potentially world-class sports people in Shetland.
The Highland Institute of Sport is part of network of six Area Institutes of Sport across Scotland, responsible for supporting the achievement of excellence in Scottish sport. Based in Inverness, Mr. Hildrey manages a programme of support to 22 Institute Athletes in ten priority sports across the Highlands and Islands area.
The specialist knowledge and resources available to the Institute includes sport science, notational advice. These areas are tailored to the individual needs of each athlete and are also supported by a ‘performance lifestyle’ programme aimed at ensuring each athlete has a balanced lifestyle conducive to attaining their objectives. This can include the good management of issues relating to work, education, domestic situation, sports training and competition commitments.
To date no athletes from Shetland have yet been nominated by their sport’s governing body for selection to the Area Institute. The principal purpose of this visit was to meet with local sports coaches and representatives of Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Recreational Trust to outline the criteria for selection to the Institute and to discuss possible support mechanisms for any athletes who may be identified in the future.
Commenting on his visit, Mr. Hildrey stated – “The high standard of leisure facility provision and sports club structures, is an excellent platform for the creation of sporting talent. Coupled with quality PE tuition in primary and secondary schools in Shetland, the achievement by local athletes of the national criteria for selection to the Area Institute is a realistic objective.”
Councillor Billy Stove added “Shetland’s sportsmen and women regularly rise to the challenge of high level competition on the Scottish mainland and at the Island Games. The support of the Highland Institute of Sport for island based athletes who want to achieve their sporting potential is to be warmly welcomed.”
Further discussions will follow over the coming months about the formalisation of Partnership Agreements between Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Recreational Trust and the Highland Institute of Sport.
For more information about the Scottish Institute of Sport, and the Area Institute networks, please look up – www.sisport.com
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