EDINBURGH, Scotland // Scotland’s sports minister says it will have its own team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 if it votes for independence next year.
Scottish athletes currently compete for Britain, with tennis player Andy Murray and cyclist Chris Hoy helping them win around 18 per cent of the host team’s medals at last year’s London Games.
However, Shona Robison tells the BBC on Wednesday that “we’re comfortable and assured Scotland will have its own Olympic and Paralympic team” if it is made an independent nation in the referendum on September 18, 2014.
Robison says Scotland would fulfill the criteria to be an Olympic nation, as it would be an independent state recognised by the international community, would have a solid sporting structure, and have at least five national federations affiliated to international federations of Olympic sports.
sports@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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The specs
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NO OTHER LAND
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The 10 Questions
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