By Duncan Mackay

January 9 - Flower Of Scotland, a song which celebrates a victory over the English in a battle nearly 700 years ago, has been selected as the official anthem for Scots representing their country in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi later this year and Glasgow in 2014.


Athletes from 17 sports gathered at the University of Stirling to decide which tune should be played when Team Scotland win gold and stand on top of the medal podium.

In a recent on-line poll for STV, Flower of Scotland was also chosen by the public, winning with 38 per cent of votes.

With no official Scottish national anthem, it is up to individual sports teams to select the anthem which best reflects their sporting endeavours.

Up until 1958, Burns' Scots Wha Hae was used to mark Commonwealth Games success and since then Scotland The Brave has been the preferred anthem.

Prospective Delhi 2010 team members selected Flower Of Scotland, with a landslide vote of 211 to 15 in favour of the track.

The song was written by Roy Williamson of the folk group, The Corries, in 1965 and refers to the victory of the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, over England's Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

The song has been used by the Scotland national rugby union team, ever since the winger, Billy Steele, encouraged his team-mates to sing it on the victorious Lions tour of South Africa in 1974.

The song was adopted as the pre-game anthem during the then Five Nations championship in 1990 which culminated in the deciding match between Scotland and England, which Scotland won 13-7 to win the Grand Slam.

The Scottish Football Association adopted "Flower of Scotland" as its pre-game anthem in 1997.

The anthem being chosen was just one aspect of a day designed to ensure that all those with aspirations to be selected for Scotland in Delhi are involved in the vital planning and preparations from the outset, aimed at maximising their chance of success at the Games.

Michael Cavanagh, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: "Commonwealth Games Scotland aims to deliver the best prepared team possible, creating the right environment and giving athletes every opportunity to excel at the Games."

Scotland are hoping to improve on their performance in Melbourne four years ago when they finished sixth overall in the medals table with 29 medals, 11 of which were gold, including two claimed by Caitlin McClatchey (pictured), who won the 200 and 400 metres freestyle.
 
Cavanagh said: "The excellent team spirit in Melbourne was a major factor behind our success and today's camp provides an excellent opportunity for potential Delhi athletes to build a strong team unit right from the start, reinforcing the team's unique position of  '17 Sports, One Team'.

"Being held at the turn of the year, the camp marks an important milestone in the countdown to the Games.

"With just 10 months to go it will focus the whole team on the exciting times ahead, and hopefully inspire our athletes to strive even harder to achieve the selection targets set for their sport and secure a seat on the plane to Delhi."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
November 2009:
 Scottish athletes to choose anthem for Commonwealth Games