Dunblane-based coach, Rebecca Milnes, has been selected for an exclusive sports programme which aims to nurture the talents of Scotland’s ‘next generation’ of Commonwealth Games competitors and coaches.

Triathlon coach Rebecca, 25, was one of 81 athletes and coaches unveiled on Tuesday, April 29, who will benefit from ‘Achieve 2014’ - a programme which will mentor promising young athletes and aspiring coaches using the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as a learning experience and a springboard for their emerging talent.

Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) and Search Consultancy – Glasgow 2014’s official recruitment agency – have worked together to identify athletes from 20 Commonwealth Games sports to participate in the programme.

Rebecca, 25, is the apprentice coach with triathlonscotland, a position supported through sportscotland’s Coaching Futures programme.

She has attained a Level 3 British Triathlon Coaching qualification and has been coaching the popular swim, bike and run sport for the past four years. A dedicated coach, she commits herself to more than 40 hours of weekly training.

Rebecca said: “It’s such an honour to be part of the ‘Achieve 2014’ programme and I’m really excited to have been accepted. I will be taking three athletes along too which is great as it will help them understand what it’s like to be part of a major Games and how it could impact their future.

“I’m overjoyed that I’ll get to see Team Scotland putting on a display of fantastic sporting performances and showcasing all the hard work that’s gone into preparing for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games over the last few years.

“It will be wonderful to see it all coming together and everyone working as a team to make our home Games a success.” The athletes and coaches selected will be given an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience of Glasgow 2014, led by experienced mentors, many of whom have competed at past Commonwealth Games.

The programme aims to propel young athletes onto sporting success by preparing them for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in St Lucia and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.

First rolled out at the Delhi Games in 2010, many of the 28 athletes involved then have gone on to great sporting success, including long jumper Jade Nimmo, who has already been selected for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014. Several of the coaches and mentors from the Achieve programme in Delhi will play a prominent role with Team Scotland.

Search managing director for Scotland, Simone Lockhart, said: “It’s fantastic to see ‘Achieve 2014’ come to fruition and announcing those on the programme certainly builds on the excitement that’s already in the air as the nation eagerly awaits the start of the Games. We have worked closely with Commonwealth Games Scotland to enhance the programme and ensure it provides the best possible experience to Scotland’s next generation of sporting talent.”