Sports therapy duo lead soft tissue support for Team Scotland

A lecturer and a graduate from University College Birmingham are playing a key role in supporting Team Scotland 's elite athletes at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Sports lecturer Gareth Bate is the Soft Tissue lead, heading a team of three which works within the medical crew supporting more than 300 athletes representing Scotland at the Games.

The soft tissue team are working closely with athletes, liaising with them on their requirements for sports therapy and soft tissue work, providing pre-event preparation and post-event recovery services.

Working alongside Gareth is sports therapist Linda Currie as well as Kacper Bolon - a University College Birmingham graduate now working as a graduate teaching assistant with the University's Department of Sport and Nutrition.

Kacper, who completed his Sports Therapy (BSc) Hons degree at the University in 2021 before progressing onto teacher training, said: "It is an incredible opportunity to work alongside Team Scotland during a fantastic event like the Commonwealth Games, which celebrates so many cultures and sporting disciplines.

"My degree and my one year of industry experience have definitely helped to shape and develop my skill set, which has prepared me for the Games.

"It's been amazing to play a role in the preparation stages for a big event, and it's a great honour to get a chance to work with world-class athletes and alongside world-class therapists.

"It's honestly a great experience and an unimaginable start to my career!"

This is lecturer and team leader Gareth 's second Commonwealth Games working with Team Scotland, having also provided soft tissue support at the last event on Australia's Gold Coast in 2018.

He said: "It's a privilege - any involvement with elite sport like this, you can't take for granted," he said.

"I've really enjoyed the planning phase of it, because I've had more engagement and involvement in the planning than I have before.

"It's about them having everything they need, so that their minds are set on the competition and they have the most successful Games they can.

"Alongside travelling between the various Athlete Villages around Birmingham and beyond, the soft tissue crew will be operating from the University's Moss House campus building. ”