SCOTLAND'S governing sports body has welcomed a move by defence giant BAE Systems to help athletes with advanced technology.
The firm is about to agree a four-year deal with UK Sport worth hundreds of thousands of pounds in a partnership Sportscotland claims will benefit athletes competing in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
BAE will offer engineering equipment, materials and expertise to a range of sports, although specific projects are yet to be identified.
A Sportscotland spokesman said: "With many Scottish athletes part of UK training programmes, it is excellent news that UK Sport looks set to continue its partnership with BAE Systems.
"As we move towards the Commonwealth Games, it is important our athletes have access to the most advanced technology possible and this agreement will help add value to their training programmes."
The deal is expected to be completed in the new year with the partnership scheduled to begin in February.
It follows a similar technology agreement between the two organisations from 2008 to 2012, which provided engineering to more than 20 sports, from bob-skeleton to wheelchair racing. Under the new deal, athletes and coaches will be able to draw on the expertise of thousands of engineers whose usual work involves designing and manufacturing military jets and submarines. The project will be co-ordinated by BAE Systems' research and development centre in Bristol.
The company claims projects developed under the previous partnership contributed to medal wins at the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2012 Olympics.
Examples included a laser tracking timing system installed at the Manchester Velodrome for British Cycling to use in training. Wheelchair racing athletes, including David Weir and Shelly Woods, were also put through their paces at BAE Systems' wind tunnel in Warton, near Preston, to help find their optimal racing position.
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