Louise Martin (sports administrator)

Martin was born in 1946 in Dunfermline. In the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, aged 16, she competed in the 110 yards backstroke and 220 yards backstroke and reached the finals in both.[2][3] She subsequently attended the Edinburgh College of Domestic Science, receiving a diploma in domestic science and food nutrition. She lectured there from 1969 to 1972, before teaching at Glenrothes High School and then, from 1973, at the Millburn Academy.[4] She married in 1973, adopting her husband Ian's surname,[2] stopped teaching in 1975,[4] and had two children.[2]

Martin then turned her skills to sports coaching and management.[2] In 1990, she became a tutor with the National Coaching Foundation. She was President of Scottish Gymnastics from 1993 until 1999, and progressed to join the board of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland in 1995; four years later, she became its first female Chair, serving until 2007.[4] As Chair, she was instrumental in securing Glasgow's bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and as Vice-Chair of the organising committee was "a hugely influential figure in the successful delivery of the Games".[5] She also chaired SportScotland from 2008 until 2016,[4] during which time she was responsible for managing an increased budget ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games, including £30 million of investment in new facilities.[5] She also served as the Secretary of the CGF from 1999 to 2015, and since 2015 has been the CGF's President.[4][6]

On 30 August 2023, the Commonwealth Games Federation has announced that Martin would retire from the role as Commonwealth Games Federation President after 8 years and her successor will be elected at the Commonwealth Games General Assembly in Singapore on 14 November 2023.

In the 2003 New Year Honours, Martin was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire "for services to the Commonwealth Games";[7] she was promoted to Dame Commander in the 2019 New Year Honours "for services to sport".[8] She holds honorary degrees from Abertay University, Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of Stirling, the University of Strathclyde, Heriot-Watt University and the University of the West of Scotland.[4] In 2002, she was named UK Sports Administrator of the Year by The Sunday Times.[2]

• Louise Martin - Athlete profile, Commonwealth Games Federation.