East Lothian's own Youth Legacy Ambassador Adam Martin speaks about his Commonwealth Legacy.
21-year-old Adam Martin from East Lothian sees the Commonwealth Games coming to Scotland not just as an historic occasion but as something that will fuel his passion for volunteering and sport.
"These are incredible opportunities which I will never forget and each of them has provided me with a fantastic standing for my future.”
Having been involved in the Dehli Handover Ceremony in 2010, the young sports coach has championed the Games from the very start.
Now, thanks to national youth information and citizenship charity Young Scot’s Youth Legacy Ambassador Programme, Adam is being trained and supported in getting his local community involved in the Games.
He said: “I’ve always been really passionate about sport so when I was asked to be a Youth Legacy Ambassador, I accepted the role immediately.
“For me, the main objective is to inspire more young people to lead active lifestyles and let them be at the heart of this once-in-a-lifetime event. To date, this has involved setting up various sports clubs and events in local schools to encourage young people to have a go at different sports, including everything from basketball to lawn bowls.”
Aside from the community benefits, Adam is also thriving in terms of his own development.
“This role has had a massive impact on me”, said Adam. “Prior to becoming a Youth Legacy Ambassador, I simply coached sessions and attended the occasional festival. Now I am at the centre of many big projects and organise events myself. I am really enthusiastic and passionate about making these Games as exciting as possible.
“All the training and opportunities have also helped improved my skills, and I’m hoping the experience will help me in my pursuit of a career in sports or events management.
“I’ve been given the opportunity to work at a Paralympics Exhibition in Glasgow, been part of a consultation bid for the Glasgow Youth Olympic bid in 2018 and most recently had the chance to work at London 2012. These are incredible opportunities which I will never forget and each of them has provided me with a fantastic standing for my future.”
