Published: Thursday, 29th July, 2010 9:30am

County trio set for Delhi adventure

TWO of the fast-rising county athletes and a lifestyle coach are heading to this year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi - for vital learning experience in the run-up to the 2014 event in Glasgow.

Badminton star Paul Van Reitvelde, from Longniddry, swimmer Emma Hunter, from Musselburgh, and lifestyle guru Susie Elms, from Pencaitland, are among a 56-strong group selected by Commonwealth Games Scotland and Glasgow 2014 under a new initiative designed to enhance the winning opportunities of Scottish athletes and coaches on the world stage - by gaining critical knowledge and experience of a senior multi-sport environment.

Achieve 2014 will offer the athletes and coaches named last Friday the chance to travel to the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games in October for a five-day learning experience. Each team member will observe their own or similar sport in competition as well as visit the Games Village to see how their Team Scotland counterparts live and train.

They will complete specific learning tasks, daily event logs and, upon return, complete a brief report on their personal experiences throughout the whole event.

Paul Van Reitvelde

Assigned to each Achieve 2014 team member will be an athlete or coach mentor, who will work closely with them prior to, during and after the games to ensure the time spent in Delhi is utilised to achieve a robust, performance-related outcome.

Elms, lifestyle manager for Sports Scotland Institute of Sport, is one of the mentors, who also include 2006 Commonwealth Gold medallist shooter Susan Jackson, two-time medallist in badminton Elinor Middlemiss and former hammer thrower Shirley Webb, who is also a member of the Glasgow 2014 Athletes Commission.

The athletes selected range from 15-28 years old and include Scottish and British junior and age group champions as well as a number of juniors starting to compete successfully in senior international competition.

A few athletes just missed out on selection for Delhi 2010 but have clearly demonstrated the potential for future success.

Van Reitvelde, 19, is the Scottish No1 ranked men's doubles badminton player, and No2 ranked mixed doubles player.

Hunter, 17, is the UK's No1 ranked backstroker at under-17 level. The project which is being funded by Commonwealth Games Scotland will cost up to £144,000 and includes an award of £20,000 from sportscotland.

The national agency for sport is also providing expertise to support the

programme, with Commonwealth Games gold medallist, world champion and Olympian in judo, Graeme Randall MBE appointed as the Achieve 2014 director.

John Scott, Glasgow 2014 chief executive, said: "Naming these athletes, mentors and coaches has underlined our approach to delivering an outstanding games in 2014 - and keeping them athlete centred and sport focused.

"I am looking forward to seeing these athletes at work in Delhi, and hearing about their learning experiences over the next four years as part of the Achieve 2014 programme."

It is intended that the programme will run again in 2012 with athletes attending the London Olympic Games and then for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.