On Wednesday 10 June, we marked the countdown to a summer of athletics by bringing a trio of Olympians to Glasgow, continuing our long-standing support for the sport in Scotland.
As excitement builds ahead of the Commonwealth Games returning to the city, we were proud to host our second Lindsays Sports Forum which connected elite sporting insight with the people and organisations who help athletics thrive at every level.
We welcomed Dame Denise Lewis, Olympic gold medallist, Eilidh Doyle, Scotland’s most decorated track and field athlete, and Jack Buckner, UK Athletics Chief Executive and former distance runner to share their experiences. Together, they offered valuable perspectives on their careers, the importance of major events, and the lasting impact of athletics on communities and individuals alike.
The panel discussion, led by our Chief Operating Officer Ian Beattie, who also serves as Chair of UK Athletics, created an opportunity for open conversation, reflection and inspiration as we look ahead to a landmark period for the sport.
And there was plenty of praise for Glasgow for the return of the Games, last held in the city in 2014.
Speaking just before the event started, Dame Denise, the current President of UK Athletics, said: “Glasgow is a city which has sport at its heart, so it’s brilliant to have the Commonwealth Games returning here. The fact that Glasgow rallied to give athletes this opportunity and continue a great legacy for the sport is fantastic.”
Panelists shared their excitement at both the return of the Commonwealth Games and the European Athletics Championships that will follow it in Birmingham, the first time that event has been held in the United Kingdom.
They also spoke of their early sporting journeys, inspiration and the impact that the Commonwealth Games had on their own competitive international careers.
Ian Beattie said he was delighted that the firm was able to bring a panel with elite experience to Glasgow to share their insight and thanked them all for taking part.
He added: “Glasgow has built a fantastic reputation worldwide over the years as a top city of sport. It’s a place sport wants to come to.
“The reason for that is that sporting bodies know the events in Glasgow are well organised. They know the crowds are passionate and that it’s a sporting city. They know people from all over the world enjoy coming to Glasgow and the welcome they receive.”
“It’s been an absolute mainstay of Glasgow’s strategy as a city to invest in sporting events. There have been a number of major championships - including in world athletics, cycling and gymnastics - in recent years and they have gone fantastically well.”
“Home advantage makes a huge difference. Not just within the stadium - where you have the majority of the crowd supporting the home athletes, but the feel in the city and the fact you know it’s a big competition and people are talking about it.”
As a firm with offices across Scotland, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth and Crieff, we are proud to be a significant supporter of grassroots sport.
This year, we strengthened that commitment by extending our sponsorship of the scottishathletics cross country season and road race series. The road race series concluded with a record combined field of 1,450 runners taking part in the 5k and 10k events in Edinburgh and Glasgow – a clear reflection of the growing popularity and strength of the sport. Our dual sponsorship agreement will continue through to 2029, supporting athletes and events across the country.
The Commonwealth Games take place from July 11 to August 2. The European Athletics Championships are between August 10 and 16.
