The University of Stirling welcomed UK Government minister Kirsty McNeill MP to the campus today, as preparations begin for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Ms McNeill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland and MP for Midlothian, toured the National Swimming Academy, high-performance fitness centre, and the National Tennis Centre. Holding discussions with Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director of Sport, and David Bond, Director of Performance Sport, about the university’s continued leadership in sport, health, and wellbeing.
Preparations Begin for the Games
Speaking on her visit, Ms McNeill said:
“With less than a year to go until the Commonwealth Games, it’s inspiring to see how Scotland’s top swimmers are preparing at Stirling’s world-class facilities.
“The UK Government is proud to have helped secure Glasgow 2026 — a major global sporting event and a chance to showcase our athletes, our cities, and our capability to host world-class competitions.”
Cathy Gallagher added:
“It was a pleasure to welcome Kirsty McNeill MP to the University today. We’re proud of the dedication and talent within our performance programmes, and it was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the preparations underway for Glasgow 2026.
“As Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, we are counting down the days to the Games —to welcome athletes from across the Commonwealth and to see our own compete on the international stage.”
During her campus visit, Ms McNeill also toured the university’s sports facilities, where she observed high-performance swimmers in training.
She also met with Olympic medallists Duncan Scott and Katie Shanahan, along with Head Performance Swim Coach Ben Higson.
Duncan Scott – Scotland’s most decorated Olympic and Commonwealth Games athlete – recently resumed training following a gold-medal performance at the World Aquatics Championships in Japan, where he and Stirling teammate Jack McMillan triumphed in the Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay for Great Britain.
Duncan’s Goals for the Games
Scott now sets his sights on defending his 200m Individual Medley and 200m Freestyle titles at next year’s home Games.
Reflecting on the opportunity to compete once again on home soil, Scott said:
“Not many athletes get to compete in a home Commonwealth Games even once, so to have the chance a second time is something I’m incredibly grateful for.
“The Games are such an important event in the sporting calendar, and having them back in Scotland is fantastic – not just for athletes, but for fans across the country.
“There was an amazing buzz in Glasgow back in 2014, and I’m really looking forward to returning to that atmosphere and hopefully adding to my medal tally.”
Excitement Brews
Teammate Katie Shanahan, a double bronze medallist at the 2022 Birmingham Games, echoed the excitement.
“I’m absolutely thrilled the Games are going ahead next year,” she said.
“There was uncertainty for a while, so the fact that it’s happening – and in Scotland – is a huge relief and incredibly exciting.
“Our squad has just resumed training after the summer break, and there’s a real sense of purpose around preparing for Glasgow. Competing in front of a home crowd, with my family and friends watching, will be a dream come true.”
In 2022, The University of Stirling sent a record 20 athletes to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, representing five nations across four sports – swimming, triathlon, judo and hockey.
The Stirling athletes returned a total of 16 medals, all in swimming, and will be hoping to replicate the same success in Glasgow next summer.
Featured Image Credit: University of Stirling
2nd year journalism and sport student at the University of Stirling, with a particular interest in music and sports. Sport editor for Brig Newspaper.
