Emily is cover star as young athletes fly out for Children’s Games

Jun 25 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BUDDING tennis starlet Emily Lauder has been made a cover star for the first official Lanarkshire 2011 International Children’s Games magazine.

The 14-year-old Holy Cross pupil and her 18 team-mates in Team Lanarkshire flew off to the ICG in Athens, Greece, this week, and Emily is proud of her place in history as the free 48-page magazine drops through letter boxes in 300,000 homes throughout Lanarkshire.

Emily, who has played tennis for the West of Scotland under-14s and Scotland under-12s, said: “I’m really excited about representing Team Lanarkshire in an international competition. It’s going to be an unforgettable experience for us all.

“I’m looking forward to playing in an international tournament, playing against people from other countries and meeting people from different cultures.”

Wimbledon began this week and Emily is hoping to take inspiration from her tennis heroes when she steps onto the court in the Greek capital.

Emily explained: “My favourite players are Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer.

“My dad used to be a tennis coach and he started me playing when I was about three so I’ve really been into tennis all my life.

“The games are not just about tennis for me, as I see this as a chance to maybe make new friends from different countries. Going to the Olympic city of Athens is great.”

Although firmly focused on her performance in Athens, Emily is also looking forward to 2011, when the games come to Lanarkshire.

“This is a great opportunity to put Lanarkshire on the map around the world, for other children in the area to compete in the games and become involved in many different ways,” she said. “It’s more than sport.”

Dad Derek will be among the proud parents travelling to Greece with the young Lanarkshire athletes.

He said: “This is an opportunity in a million for Emily and we are all very proud of her and the rest of the young athletes in Team Lanarkshire, who will be flying the flag for the area.”

Emily added: “My family are really happy for me. My friends think I play far too much tennis but they’re all really happy for me as well.”

From August 3-7, 2011, around 1500 young athletes aged 12-15, and 500 officials and coaches, will gather in Lanarkshire for the 45th International Children’s Games.

They will come from almost 50 countries and from every continent for the biggest international event ever held in Lanarkshire.