EDINBURGH, Scotland // Scotland’s sports minister says it will have its own team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 if it votes for independence next year.
Scottish athletes currently compete for Britain, with tennis player Andy Murray and cyclist Chris Hoy helping them win around 18 per cent of the host team’s medals at last year’s London Games.
However, Shona Robison tells the BBC on Wednesday that “we’re comfortable and assured Scotland will have its own Olympic and Paralympic team” if it is made an independent nation in the referendum on September 18, 2014.
Robison says Scotland would fulfill the criteria to be an Olympic nation, as it would be an independent state recognised by the international community, would have a solid sporting structure, and have at least five national federations affiliated to international federations of Olympic sports.
sports@thenational.ae
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
