Annabel Goldie and Scottish Conservative Party Pledge for Sport

In the backdrop of the Scottish Parliament, today Annabel Goldie MSP will be joined by other Scottish Conservative MSPs in signing up to the Scottish Sports Alliance's VoteforSport Pledge. As the Scottish Conservative Party Leader, Annabel will sign up to the Pledge on behalf of the whole party - as the first party in Scotland to uniformly Pledge to VoteforSport.

Annabel will join Deputy Party Leader, Murdo Fraser MSP, and Liz Smith MSP, former Scottish international sportswoman and party spokesperson on education and young people, who signed up to the Pledge on 23 October at the Scottish Canoe Association's Paddle 2010 event.

The campaign was launched on 21 September with the support of Margo MacDonald MSP and Rhona Martin MBE and is designed to raise the profile of sport throughout the Scottish Parliamentary Elections in 2011.

In signing up to the VoteforSport Pledge Annabel Goldie reiterated the Scottish Conservative Party's recognition of the unique contribution of sport to Scotland and signed all Conservative MSPs and PPCs up to the Pledge:

"I pledge to recognise the unique role, value and potential of sport in Scottish society and upon my election to the Scottish Parliament I will act as a Scottish Sporting Champion throughout my term in Parliament."

In signing the Pledge Annabel Goldie said:

"I warmly congratulate the Scottish Sports Alliance for producing this sports manifesto and for all the hard work they have undertaken in encouraging Scotland to get fit.

"A healthier, fitter Scotland is essential to secure a positive and productive future for our country. Existing problems with the lack of Scots taking exercise and looking after themselves are largely cultural, so it is through tackling this culture that we will see results.

"Improving the fitness of the nation will be right at the heart of the Scottish Conservative manifesto for the Holyrood elections in May 2011 and that is why our MSPs are signing the vote for sport pledge."

Murdo Fraser commented:

"I am a strong supporter of the Scottish Sports Alliance's VoteforSport Pledge and campaign.

"We must raise the profile of sport in our schools and get everyone in Scotland more active and involved in sport. Sport and getting people more active will be at the centre of the Scottish Conservative manifesto for next year's Scottish Parliamentary elections."

Scottish Sports Association Board Member & former Scotland and British Lions Rugby International, Scott Hastings, commented:

"This campaign is to succeed we need to encourage sport in all areas of society and recognise the huge impact that sport has on our nation. There are many things that need to be done but having sport on the political agenda could significantly benefit the health of our country whilst promoting Scotland's sporting profile.

"2011 is a huge opportunity for all those involved in sport, from the local community clubs up to the highest stage to promote sport as a campaign issue. I urge everyone who plays, spectates or just loves sport to log on to www.VoteforSport.com and pledge their support to show Scotland truly cares about sport.

"My vision is to see every school child playing sport in Scotland on a regular basis every week and that sport is accepted as part of Scotland's future well being."

"The campaign will not only encourage MSPs and PPCs to sign the Pledge but will also utilise the power of the some 900,000 men and women who take part in sports clubs in Scotland. Policy Director of the Scottish Sports Association, Kim Atkinson, highlighted that:

"Sport is undoubtedly Scotland's greatest social movement; with 1 in 5 people in Scotland a member of one of our 12,000 sports clubs. VoteforSport will give this constituency a voice for the first time in Scottish elections."

The Scottish Sports Alliance is the collective voice of the Scottish Sports Association, Scottish Universities Sport and the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils.
Collectively the three organisations represent 55 Governing Bodies of Sport; 17 Associate Sporting Organisations; 55 Local Sports Councils; 16 Scottish Universities, encompassing 150,000 regular volunteers, 12,000 sports clubs and 900,000 men and women who regularly participate in sports clubs in Scotland.
The first MSP to sign the pledge was Margo MacDonald an Independent list MSP for the Lothians at a launch event with Rhona Martin MBE on 21 September 2010.
Further information is available at: www.VoteforSport.com

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