The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Grilling over Hawkins’ ordeal
Scottishathletics to seek answers from Gold Coast Games organisers
Scottishathletics will ask for answers from organisers of the Commonwealth Games on issues arising from the men’s marathon on the Gold Coast.
The final athletics event in Australia saw long-time race leader Callum Hawkins collapse with heat exhaustion when he was just two kilometres from the finish line.
Callum’s Team Scotland team-mate, Robbie Simpson, duly came through for a superb bronze medal as Gold Coaster Michael Shelley successfully defended the title he won at Glasgow 2014.
But with seven of the 24-strong field failing to finish the Commonwealth Games marathon – and six of those believed to have been admitted to hospital while the race was still underway – there are serious concerns.
Now scottishathletics, in partnership with Commonwealth Games Scotland, will make an official request for response from the Gold Coast 2018 local organising committee.
Chief executive Mark Munro is determined to pursue the issue using the formal auspices of CGS so that lessons can be learned for those involved.
Among the questions being asked by scottish athletics are:
The timing and scheduling of the event with the men’s race starting at 8.15am local time, as temperatures pushed towards 30 degrees
The risk assessments carried out in advance
The medical response time with call um Hawkins left lying on the roadside unattended for some considerable time
TV footage which was beamed around the world of Callum in distress – as family members watched back home in Scotland in the middle of the night
Mark Munro said: ‘We are making a joint submission to the Gold Coast Organising Committee with Commonwealth Games Scotland (who manage Team Scotland).
“There are a number of key questions arising out of events on marathon day that we feel need to be addressed.’
It is hoped that scottish athletics may be able to make public any response received, if appropriate and agreed accordingly.