Elke, 17, is true sporting ambassador
Teen mixes with top athletes
Clyde Valley High School pupil Elke Maclean has been selected as a young ambassador for sportscotland.
The 17-year-old, from Overtown, will help deliver special conferences across the country along with pupils from other schools.
Elke will help plan how the workshops will be delivered and present the opening and closing speeches at the national conferences alongside sports development professionals and international athletes in welcoming the new Young Ambassadors for the 2017-2018 sporting session.
Elke said: “I got involved in the sportscotland Young Ambassador Conference team for the first time last year, originally I applied to this opportunity to help to raise my level of confidence in everyday life.
“I thought that speaking in front of groups of people who were roughly my age would push me outside my comfort zone.
“This opportunity would also have helped me to meet lots of new people and make new friends from all around Scotland.
“I felt like all of the events I had attended helped me, I felt more confident and independent.
“Then I re-applied to be part of the team again this year to help create some more fun and great opportunities like I did last year.
“I also re-applied this year to help inspire new Young Ambassadors across Scotland and help them to spread their enthusiasm for sport.”
Some of the athletes that Elke mixed with included Rio Olympic bronze medallist Eilidh Doyle, Scottish international footballer Julie Fleeting, Scottish rugby union player Colin Gregor, Commonwealth Games double gold medallist Caitlin McClatchey and 2016 Rio Olympic silver medallist Robbie Renwick.
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive at sportscotland, said: “Our Young Ambassador conferences provide a great opportunity for pupils who are passionate about sport to meet skilled athletes, gaining hints and tips from the professionals.
“It’s a chance for youngsters to collaboratively make a difference to Scotland’s sporting landscape.
“Our Young Ambassadors motivate and inspire others to get into sport, helping shape decisions to ensure youngsters have the best possible sporting experience across Scotland.”