University of Aberdeen students and staff have been nominated in awards celebrating the contributions academic institutions are making to the Commonwealth games, and to sport in Scotland.
The Game Changer Awards 2014 have been developed to recognise those in the education sector who are supporting this major sporting event that will open in Glasgow on July 23.
The Commonwealth Sports Tour - a 12 week programme of events aiming to engage children from the local community with Commonwealth Sports and enhance their understanding of the Commonwealth - has secured the Aberdeen University Sports Union a finalist place in the Learning and Skills category of the awards.
A scheme developed by the University of Aberdeen’s Sport and Exercise Team making free swimming lessons available to hundreds of staff and students of the University at the new state of the art Aberdeen Aquatics Centre, has also been selected as a finalist in the Sporting Contribution Category of the competition.
The Game Changer awards ceremony and dinner will take place on April 3 at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow, where the winners will be announced.
Marc McCorkell, University of Aberdeen’s Student President for Sport said: “All at the Sports Union are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Game Changer Award. Our students are incredibly excited about working on the Sports Tour and engaging with kids in the local community.”
Gillian Kerr of the University’s Sports and Exercise Team said: “The Aberdeen Aquatics Centre is a world class facility that will benefit swimmers, and current non-swimmers, of all different levels of ability.
“The Learn to Swim scheme aims to reinforce that the facility is not just for our elite users but for anyone interested in swimming or water sports at any level, while also playing an important role in the Commonwealth Legacy.
“I’m delighted to hear that we have been shortlisted down to the final three in the Sporting Contribution category. Swimming is such an inclusive sport and it’s been a great to see so many participants already enjoying and benefiting from the lessons in the pool.”
Those interested in the Learn to Swim scheme can contact Gillian Kerr at g.kerr@abdn.ac.uk
See website for details: www.abdn.ac.uk/sportandexercise/learntoswim/
The Commonwealth Sports Tour is organised in partnership with the Aberdeen Sports Village, where all the events will take place. Events kick off on April 21. For more information visit
www.aberdeensportsvillage.com/children-s-activities/kids-asv/commonwealth-sports-tour
For more information on the Game Changer Awards 2014 visit www.gamechangerawards.org/