John Scott, UK Sport’s International Director and Director of Drug-Free Sport, has today been announced as Chief Executive of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. He will take up his new post in August 2008.

Scott will lead the Organising Company, the body responsible for delivering the Commonwealth Games. Among his responsibilities will be delivering the sports programme, monitoring the development of new and improved infrastructure, managing the staff of the Organising Company which will rise to several hundred people by 2014, and recruiting and training the 15,000 volunteers needed for the Games. His immediate task will be to establish the Organising Committee in preparation for the actual delivery of the Games following the Games in Delhi in 2010.

“I’m passionate about sport and this is certainly the most exciting opportunity of my career,” said Scott. “I’m determined that in 2014 the thousands of athletes, officials, spectators and those watching at home will experience the best Commonwealth Games ever staged.

“The hard work begins now, building on the outstanding foundation provided by the Bid Team. Through these Games, the whole Commonwealth will see what an amazing place Scotland is. With world-class facilities and venues, world – class competition and a fantastic cultural offering we also want to showcase the very best of the city of Glasgow.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with the partners in the Games – the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland, the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and the Commonwealth Games Federation - to make sure that we leave a strong and lasting sporting, social and economic legacy for the next generation in Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth.”

John Steele, UK Sport Chief Executive, said:
“This is a terrific role for John, and one that plays to his unique blend of skills and experience in international sport.  For the past ten years, John has made an immense contribution in his work at UK Sport.  While we will miss him greatly, it is hard not to be thrilled for him personally about this opportunity and the chance for him to play such a lead role in a major international sporting event.  I also think it is a great feather in UK Sport’s cap that such a prestigious post should be landed by one of our own.”  

Scott will continue to work at UK Sport for another three months before starting at Glasgow 2014 on 4 August.  In that time he will be fully focused on his role leading both UK Sport’s International and Drug Free Sport responsibilities, including the finalization and presentation to the Minister for Sport of the business case for the proposed new National Anti-Doping Organisation.