Mccolgan and Doyle raise concerns over Euro plan for Scotland
Concerns have been raised by two leading athletes over a proposal suggesting that Scotland strike out on its own at European level.
Both Eilish Mccolgan and Eilidh Doyle have raised the issue of whether the same funding would be available if the home nations competed as separate entities.
Scottishathleticshaswritten to European Athletics enquiring about home nations entering teams individually instead of as part of a British team.
It would not effect Scottish athletes competing at world or Olympic level. But Mccolgan, the 5,000 metres European Championship silver medallist, said “a lot more detail” would be needed.
“Obviously, through British Athletics we have huge opportunities,” Mccolgan said in a BBC interview. “Warm weather training camps, altitude camps abroad. I don’t know if Scottish Athletics would have the resources or the funding in order to be able to support things like that.
“We have to really look at it in a lot more detail before we start splitting up and going our separate ways. We definitely need to learn more about it. As a Scottish athlete, we love every opportunity with Scotland. I’ll always see myself as Scottish.”
Doyle, a three-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist while representing Scotland, said funding would be key.
“That’s got to be the main thing – it’s being able to support the Scottish athletes,” said Doyle. “If we’re going to be competing for Scotland is there that same support that we would get at a GB level?”