Official Report 804KB pdf
Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is Emily Nicholl, Scottish Thistles captain.
Presiding Officer and members of the Scottish Parliament, thank you for the opportunity to address you this afternoon.
As captain of the Scottish Thistles and a proud representative of Netball Scotland, I wanted to speak to you today to share how netball, and sport more broadly, has the power to shape lives, build resilience and inspire ambition across Scotland as we look ahead to Glasgow 2026.
Very recently, in East Kilbride, the Scottish Thistles welcomed New Zealand’s Silver Ferns, who are ranked number 2 in the world. This was a historic moment that brought world-class netball to Scottish soil.
We have also just hosted the Celtic cup, a celebration of home-grown talent, the Celtic nations and fierce competition from some African countries. However, these events were not just fixtures on a calendar; they were statements of intent. They showed that Scotland is ready—ready to compete, ready to inspire and ready to host the Commonwealth games with pride and passion.
Beyond the scorelines of these recent competitions, although we did get some historic results, something much more powerful happened. The stands were full of young boys and girls who saw athletes who looked like them, spoke like them and wore the thistle with honour. They witnessed at first hand what can happen when we dream big and work hard.
As we prepare for the Commonwealth games, the Thistles want not only to deliver on the court and show our athletic prowess but to inspire the next generation and leave a legacy—to inspire others to chase their dreams.
I know at first hand how powerful watching your role models in person can be. At Glasgow 2014, I was a spectator in the stands, having never competed for Scotland. However, I saw my dreams reflected back in the faces of my heroes and, two years later, I was taking to the court for my first cap. I hope that, next year, I will get my full circle moment of running out in front of a home crowd at the Hydro and leading my team.
As the only team sport being showcased at Glasgow 2026, we are well aware of the responsibility that comes with that, but trust me—the future of Scottish sport is in safe hands with the Thistles. We are a group of fiercely passionate, disciplined and educated women, and we are ready to be at the forefront of inspiring the next generation. We are the Thistles and we are just getting started.