fciwomenswrestling.com article - wikimedia photo
Scenic Scotland brings us more good news in the form of the star freestyle wrestler, Sarah Jones.
The enchanting, picturesque land of Scotland has entertained the world for years in the film industry by exporting many gems like Sean Connery of James Bond fame and captivating us with movies like Mel Gibson’s Braveheart and Burt Lancaster in the charming indie entitled Local Hero.
As Female Competition International travels the globe sharing information about the women’s wrestling industry with our readers, we thought it would be nice to dance into Scotland.
As the host of the 2014 Commonwealth games, if we didn’t know it before, we sure know it now. Fully competitive women’s wrestling is alive and well in this United Kingdom partner and the beautiful girl leading the charge is Ms. Sarah Jones.
The organization expresses, “Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is the lead body for Commonwealth Games sport in Scotland and our membership is made up of the 26 Scottish governing bodies on the list of eligible Games sports.
We are one of 71 Commonwealth Games Associations who are members of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the parent body for the Games.
Commonwealth Games Scotland is responsible for selecting, preparing and managing Scotland’s team at the Commonwealth Games every four years and since 2010 our team has been known as Team Scotland.
The Commonwealth Games is the only occasion where Scotland gets to compete in a multi-sport event as a nation in its own right, and we believe this is one of the key factors that contributes to the strong team spirit which has become a trademark of Team Scotland.”
According to the widely read information source Wikipedia, Sarah Jones is a Scottish freestyle wrestler who was born April 3rd, 1983 in Edinburgh, Scotland. She finished fourth in the 72kg category at the Delhi Games and now has represented Scotland at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games with grace and pride.
Some insight into Ms. Jones accomplishments is shared at scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk. “Sarah has been playing contact sports for 21 years but she originally started as a gymnast before moving to playing judo, then rugby, and finally switching to wrestling in 2008.”
We’re certainly glad she did.
In watching Ms. Jones social media and online video it’s heart-warming to see strong community support, enjoyable friendships and hard work come together in an encouraging manner.
As is our custom, let’s visit the community that raised her.
Wikipedia shares, “Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, Scotland shares a border with England to the south, and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean; with the North Sea to the east, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the south-west. In addition to the mainland, the country is made up of more than 790 islands, including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.”
The official site visitscotland.com adds, “Discover Scotland and you’ll find the country is a fantastic mix of stunning landscapes, wildlife and wonderful local produce, combined with a thriving arts and culture scene, and topped off with a colorful history of epic battles and historic castles.”
Let’s specifically relax in Sarah’s place of birth. Wikipedia continues, “Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, situated in Lothian on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. It is the second most populous city in Scotland and the seventh most populous in the United Kingdom. The population in 2013 was 487,500.
Edinburgh is rich in associations with the past and has many historic buildings, including Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the churches of St. Giles, Greyfriars and the Canongate, and an extensive Georgian New Town built in the 18th century. Edinburgh’s Old Town and New Town are jointly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city has long been known abroad as a center of education, particularly in the fields of medicine, Scots law, the sciences and engineering. The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583 and now one of four in the city, was placed 17th in the QS World University Rankings in 2013.
The city is also famous for the Edinburgh International Festival, which, since its inception in 1947, has grown – largely as a result of the “Fringe” and other associated events – into the biggest annual international arts festival in the world. In 2004 Edinburgh became the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, an accolade awarded in recognition of its literary heritage and lively literary activities in the present.
The city’s historical and cultural attractions, together with an annual calendar of events aimed primarily at the tourist market, have made it the second most popular tourist destination in the United Kingdom after London, attracting over one million overseas visitors each year.”
In terms of women’s rights while Scotland may be widely viewed as progressive in the treatment of women, might there be room for improvement?
The national information site news.scotland.gov.uk focuses on the thinking of Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who was quoted as saying, “Scottish women make up 52 per cent of our population. It is therefore vital that women’s voices are heard, which is why I will be pleased to host the first ever women-only Cabinet event.
“The Scottish Government is proud to have taken action on gender equality. We are expanding child care to 600 hours from August this year for all three and four year-olds and the most vulnerable two year-olds. Scottish female employment rate is now the highest of any UK nation, and the inactivity rate is the lowest. The Scottish Government also wants to see women make up at least 40 per cent of public and private boards in Scotland.
“However, there is still much work to do and I am clear that the Scottish Government must continue to lead by example. This all-woman Cabinet event sends an important message to women in Scotland – that the Scottish Government is serious about ensuring a fair and prosperous society for all and that, following a vote for independence, we want women to have a strong voice in building our future.
“It is the right of every woman – whatever her age, wherever stage she is at in life – to be able to fulfill her potential in the labor market and in her wider life. This event will provide an opportunity for representatives from gender equality organizations across Scotland to discuss directly with me and my female ministerial colleagues, the opportunities which will arise in an independent Scotland.”
It’s fantastic to see that when an athlete like Sarah Jones makes the sacrifices necessary to excel in a tough sport that her community and country embrace her talent.
We look forward to more good things from Sarah as she has the ability and community support to impact the future. It’s also nice to see that dignified women’s wrestling is alive and well in this appealing country rich with history.
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Sources: brainyquote.com, Wikipedia, goscotland.org, scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk, fciwomenswrestling.com, bbc.com, cgcs.org.uk, news.scotland.gov.uk, photos thank you Wikimedia Commons.
