ICG News
Manama will whet athlete's appetite for more
Published: Monday 21st June 2010
Brian Whittle is perhaps best remembered for running barefoot when one of his shoes fell off at the 1986 European championships.
It was his steely determination in the third leg of the 4x400m that helped Britain win relay gold at the games in West Germany.
But the veteran Scots track star, who also represented Great Britain at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, knows first hand what it takes to compete at the highest level - the dedication, commitment, tenacity, sacrifice and self-belief needed to propel talented athletes into the top flight.
He is in no doubt that the first flavour of international competition experienced at the International Children's Games will whet the appetite of those taking part and encourage them to pursue their athletics careers to the next level.
"I think the Games is such a great opportunity for young athletes to go, in this year's case to Manama, and dip their toe in the water of international competition," said Brian. "It gives them experience of what it's like to go to a multi-sport event. Some of them, at least, will be looking at going on to compete in, for example, the Commonwealth Games or even the Olympic Games, and I think this experience gives them an idea of what to expect and how they should conduct themselves."
"It gives them an insight into how all these events work and it will be a phenomenal experience for them to take forward. The entire team will be extraordinarily excited to be going to Manama and, hopefully, that will continue as they progress through their careers.
"But no matter what level you get to, you are always excited to get picked for a major international competition."
Last year, Brian's daughter Rachel was among the 19-strong Team Lanarkshire squad and competed in the 100 metres, high jump and 4x100m. But he said his main concern was for her simply to have a "fantastic experience".
"The Games is a growing competition and Rachel talked about going to Athens for weeks and weeks beforehand. The whole team formed a real camaraderie and that is such a positive thing to happen and, indeed, it happens throughout the world of sport.
"So the experience the young athletes will have in Manama will go with them for the rest of their lives and I just think it was a fantastic opportunity for them to develop as people and to develop as athletes as well.
"I have been particularly impressed with the organisation of Team Lanarkshire and with what the members have been able to experience.
"Things like the 'hypobaric altitude' chamber, heat chamber to acclimatise them to the conditions ahead of going to Manama, and being able to go and get a full profile assessment. These are things that, if they actually continue in their sport, they will experience further down the line as well.
"No stone seems to have been left unturned and, again, I think it is a phenomenal way to go about it."
According to Brian, the full impact of the Games coming to Lanarkshire is yet to be widely understood, especially in terms of the potential long-term benefits both for health and sport.
"I don't think Lanarkshire fully understands yet the impact this will have on the youth in the region," he said. "I think as the Games approach, it will be this rolling ball, this increasing ball of excitement among the community and, hopefully, many, many young people will look at it and say, 'I really fancy doing that, why can't I?'
"Hopefully, the knock-on effect will be that more and more kids will start to participate in sport and be looking for ways to get involved. The health of children is very much on the national agenda and Lanarkshire 2011 is a great step forward.
"It is something for them to aim for. You have to give them something that excites them and, hopefully, the Games coming to Lanarkshire in 2011 will make a big impact and the kids will want to get involved.
