TWO CANADIANS ELECTED TO KEY POSITIONS AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES FEDERATION

OTTAWA – Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is proud to announce the election of two Canadians to key positions at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly held in Kigali, Rwanda September 2-5, 2019. Bruce Robertson (Ottawa, ON) was re-elected to the position of CGF Vice-President and Linda Cuthbert (Toronto, ON) continues to sit on the CGF’s Sport Committee as representative of the Americas.

"We understand the value of international sport diplomacy and the importance of having Canadians hold key positions in international sport organizations,” said Brian MacPherson, CGC CEO. “Canada is not only the founder of the Commonwealth Games (British Empire Games, Hamilton 1930) but continues to be a leader within the Commonwealth sport movement overall. Congratulations to Bruce and Linda on their elections; we are privileged to have them representing Canada within the CGF.”

A longtime leader within the CGF, Bruce Robertson has served the CGF as both a Vice President and Regional Vice President for the Americas Region. He chairs the CGF Audit and Risk Committee, CGF Sport Committee, and represents the CGF on the B2022 Games Benefit / Legacy and Engagement Committee. He was also Chair of the CGF Co-ordination Commission for the Gold Coast 2018, Glasgow 2014, and Melbourne 2006 Games and was a member of the Co-ordination Commissions for Delhi 2010 and Manchester 2002. In Canada, Bruce has served on the CGC Board in various capacities, including those of Vice-President, Treasurer, and ex-officio member. He has also been President, Board Member, and Treasurer of the Commonwealth Games Foundation of Canada in addition to chairing the CGC’s International Development through Sport (IDS) Advisory Committee.

As a competitive swimmer, Bruce won 16 medals for Canada in international competitions including the 1972 Olympic Games (silver and bronze medals), the 1973 World Aquatic Championships (gold and bronze medals), and the 1974 Commonwealth Games (2 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals).  In recognition of his athletic accomplishments, he was named Canada’s Male Athlete of the Year in 1973, was awarded the Order of Canada in 1974, and was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1977.  In 2018, he received the Sovereigns Medal for Volunteers recognizing contributions made to the Commonwealth Sport Movement through his work with Commonwealth Games Canada and the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Linda Cuthbert has been a CGC Board Member since 2006 and chairs the CGC Bid and Hosting Committee and the High Performance Advisory Committee. She has been a technical official at numerous Commonwealth Games and has also been Canada’s representative at CGF General Assemblies.

The 2019 CGF General Assembly was held in the Rwandan capital city of Kigali, with sports leaders from all 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth being in attendance. This meeting marked the ten-year anniversary of Rwanda joining the Commonwealth nations in 2009, and took place a year before Rwanda is to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2020.

Dame Louise Martin DBE (Scotland) was unopposed for the position of Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President. She was initially elected President of the CGF in Auckland, New Zealand in September 2015 when she became the first woman to hold this office in the history of the Commonwealth Sports Movement.

In addition to its quadrennial elections, the CGF General Assembly addressed the continued evolution of the organization’s Governance and Regulations as well as the approval of a refreshed Transformation 2022 strategy.

For more information:

Commonwealth Games Canada
Brian MacPherson
Chief Executive Officer
613.244.6868 x 226
brian@commonwealthgames.ca

ABOUT COMMONWEALTH GAMES CANADA
Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the franchise holder of the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth Sport Movement in Canada. CGC supports Canadian athletes in achieving excellence at the Olympics, Paralympics and World Championships, enriching the lives of youth across the Commonwealth and hosting the Commonwealth Games. For more information, visit www.commonwealthgames.ca.

ABOUT THE CGF
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games, and for delivering on the vision of the Commonwealth Sports Movement: to build peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities globally by inspiring Commonwealth Athletes to drive the impact and ambition of all Commonwealth Citizens through Sport.