Glasgow 2018 European Championships Schools' Sport Star Revealed

Published: 19 March 2018

With just over five months until Glasgow co-hosts the inaugural European Championships - a brand new multi-sport event bringing together six sports over 11 days to deliver one spectacular event - the winners of a competition to design a commemorative piece to celebrate Glasgow 2018 have been announced.

Shawlands Academy pupils Laibia, Maryam and Keira's design has been crowned the Glasgow 2018 Schools' Sports Star and will travel to schools across the city to build excitement ahead of the Championships in August.

The competition - open to all Glasgow secondary school technology departments - was launched last year to challenge young designers to submit their ideas for a unique object that will become synonymous with the 2018 sporting event in city schools.

Almost 150 designs were received and the winning design - made from reclaimed wood from Glasgow parks and donated from Community Safety Glasgow - is a simple and symbolic interpretation of the internationally recognised Glasgow 2018 logo.

Aptly named the 'sport star' due to the design - the star was welcomed by the Lord Provost Eva Bolander last week who inserted her motivational message in the special compartment - and is now off on its travels around the city's 300 schools and nurseries and school sporting events.

The aim is to have as many children and young people as possible before the championships begin in August to have their 'moment' with the Schools Sports Star and learn all about Glasgow's next big sporting event and encourage sports participation.

Active school co-ordinators have been tasked with compiling an exciting relay timetable that will kick-off in the next couple of weeks and see the Schools Sports Star arriving back at the City Chambers in time for the start of the championships on 2 August 2018.

The Glasgow 2018 School Sport Star will then be on display in the City Chambers for citizens and visitors to see.

Runners up in the design completion were Keegan Clark from St Andrew's Secondary in 2nd place and Vhairi Wallace from Bannerman High School taking 3rd place.

Lord Provost Eva Bolander was excited to welcome the unique object and said: "What a lovely competition for the girls to win - I love not only the simplicity of the design but how they have managed to slot it all together.

"Wonderful engineering at its best and what an honour that so many children and young children will get the opportunity to be part of this special moment of their own by the baton passing through their hands.

"Congratulations to all who took part in the competition and I hope you enjoy the 2018 School Sport Star as much as I have welcoming it into the City Chambers today."

Glasgow 2018 Championships Director Colin Hartley said: "The talent shown across all entries has been very impressive and we are thrilled to have such a wonderful, winning design as our Glasgow 2018 School Sport Star. It will be yet another way for school pupils to be part of what is set to be an amazing summer of sport and culture."

School Sport Star facts

The 2018 School Sport Star was made from reclaimed ash wood from a Glasgow park from a tree that suffered wind damage.

It was hand made by Shawlands Academy technology teacher Brian Kennedy - a former cabinet maker.

Shawlands Academy winners are Laiba Naeem, Keira Groves and Maryam Waseem - S2 pupils taught by Mrs McGlone.