News

Commonwealth Sport and the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company have formally appointed 12 Technical Delegates for next year’s Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. This includes the appointment of Loretta Doyle as the Judo Technical Delegate.

Technical delegates (TD) represent international sports federations and are responsible for ensuring that competition is delivered to the highest possible standards and adheres to a sport’s rules and regulations. Technical Delegates will oversee all technical aspects of their respective sports, during Glasgow 2026.

The Glasgow 2026 Technical Delegates hail from seven different nations and includes a former Commonwealth Games champion, Olympians, a former ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission and a former Team England Chef de Mission.

Former World, European, Commonwealth and British Champion judoka Loretta Doyle (9th Dan), has been selected as a Technical Delegate at the Commonwealth Games for the first time.

Speaking about taking up the position at Glasgow 2026 Loretta is absolutely thrilled saying: “I’m immensely proud to be appointed as the Technical Delegate for Judo at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. This being my first appointment in the role, makes it even more special, as a home Games adds an extra layer of pride and excitement. Having the opportunity to contribute to the success of the Games in my own country is a dream come true.

“The Commonwealth Games has always held a special place in my heart, as they embody the spirit of teamwork, unity and bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and cultures. I look forward to working closely with the Organising Company, athletes and volunteers to ensure that these Games are a memorable and inspiring event for everyone involved.”

Chief Executive of Glasgow 2026 Phil Batty OBE said “Glasgow 2026 is excited to welcome the Technical Delegates appointed to the Games next summer. Officials are the cornerstone of the sporting competition and they play a key part in bringing the Games to fruition. I have no doubt that this is a moment of pride and achievement for those selected. We look forward to working with this hugely experienced group of officials to deliver an exhilarating sporting competition across 10 sports next summer.”

CEO of Commonwealth Sport Katie Sadleir CNZM said “The role of Technical Delegate is essential to ensuring world-class competition and athlete experience at Glasgow 2026. Their expertise, collaboration, and commitment will help deliver a Games that meets the highest standards of sporting excellence and inspires millions across the Commonwealth. We thank the International Federations for their nominations and we are delighted with the experienced team of delegates we will have taking part in Glasgow 2026.”

Destination Judo has put men’s mental health at the centre of their club with Head Coach Callum Woods launching Chat on the Mat initiative in Levenmouth.

Callum felt inspired after attending a The Changing Room session at Hibernian Football Club, an initiative delivered in partnership by SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) which uses football clubs as a catalyst to spark conversations about men’s mental health.  

Callum could see a lot of social parallels between the two sports and wondered if something similar could be done in judo clubs to help men improve their mental health and overall wellbeing.  Speaking about starting the Chat on the Mat at the club, Callum said: 

“What’s not to love about the sport of judo? It helps improve fitness, builds confidence, and often leads to lifelong friendships. It’s hard not to connect with someone when you’re throwing each other over your shoulder. Judo naturally breaks down barriers—both physical and emotional—making it a great space for men to talk.” 

Session attendees are actively encouraged to talk and connect with each other during the session. Within the traditional judo class set up of skills sessions and randori, there is dedicated time factored in for socialising and exploring the practical tools available to help support mental health and wellbeing.  

Callum is using his own experience with mental health alongside his tenure as a judo coach to help others who may be struggling.  

“I believe it’s important to be well-informed when it comes to mental health and mindset. With 22 years of experience coaching judo and my own personal journey with mental health, it’s great to be in a position to help others.   

“I’m a certified transformational life coach and a trained mental health first aider. Chat on the Mat is a programme that brings all of these experiences and skill sets together under one roof—combining sport, conversation, and support to create change.” 

The programme will run for 10 weeks with participants tracking their mental wellbeing with the Warwick-Edinburgh Wellbeing Questionnaire each week. It is the hope that by the end of the programme, participants will see clear improvements which can be used as evidence to support future initiatives. 

Although Chat on the Mat is still in its infancy, Callum can see huge potential for the programme moving forward.   

“After just the first session, I saw 15 strangers laughing and joking together by the end. That’s when I knew this concept has real potential to make a positive impact. 

“The feedback so far has been positive, and it’s been great to see interest within the judo community – people are genuinely curious about how the programme is going. It’s an exciting time… so watch this space!” 

If you’d like to follow the club’s journey with Chat on the Mat or would like to get in touch with Callum directly, he is happy for people to connect with him via Instagram – @‌callumwoodscoaching.   

If you’re struggling with your mental health, please know that support is available and reaching out is a sign of strength. Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, low mood, or just feeling overwhelmed, help is within reach.

• Talk to someone you trust – a friend, family member, coach, or colleague.

• Speak to your GP for professional advice and support.

• Reach out to mental health charities and helplines, such as SAMH.

Full details on the role and how to apply can be found via the Application Pack below.

Please email your completed application form and your current CV to hr@judoscotland.com by 9am on Monday 26th May 2025.

A brief update from the JudoScotland Chair Marc Preston on activity in April.

Dear Members,

I hope you all had a Happy Easter. Due to April being a holiday period, and I personally, being out of commission for a couple of weeks, this month’s report is a short one!

For me things started on 4th April when I had eye surgery, meaning that I was restricted to what I could do for the next couple of weeks.

Later in the month, on 22nd April, we had the British Judo Board Meeting. This is normally held in Walsall, but this session took place in London at the British Olympic Association offices. I flew down for the day to catch up with the latest news and to contribute from a JudoScotland perspective. As many of you are probably aware, British Judo are going through a restructure of their performance programme, and I’m keen to ensure that JudoScotland has input and a say in the direction of flow.

Our latest cohort of Senpai participants kicked off their journey with a residential weekend over Easter, as they begin working on projects within their clubs. I look forward to seeing what these young leaders will achieve.
It was also great to see a group of pre-cadet judoka from Pro-Judo club attend the European Judo Championships as guests of the EJU with their coach David Ferguson. They were selected by British Judo as a reward for their performance at the British Championship and had the opportunity to not only watch but train with some of the best Judoka in the world, a fantastic opportunity.

On 27th April we had the Clyde Grand Prix. I went along to the event, held in Paisley, which was excellently attended and, as always, very well run.

And, finally, the month finished up on 29th April with an online meeting of the JudoScotland Board. This was to discuss Director Portfolios, whereby each Director takes responsibility for a specific area/topic. I truly believe it will make us stronger/more efficient as a Board and would like to thank our Director, Sandy Hodge, for the excellent work he has put in to this project.

Marc Preston, 7th Dan

Throughout February and March, JudoScotland was proud to team up with amazing judo clubs from across the country to take part in five Scottish Disability Sport Parasport Festivals. Together, we helped introduce hundreds of children to the exciting world of judo, many for the very first time! 

The Parasport Festivals are all about giving young people with physical, sensory (including vision and hearing), or learning disabilities the chance to try out a wide variety of inclusive, fun, and safe sports. Led by friendly, qualified local coaches, each session is designed to be welcoming and supportive ensuring that every child feels included, valued, and empowered to take part. 

But it’s not just about sport. These events are about building confidence, sparking new friendships, and creating memories that last. For many children, the Parasport Festivals offer a chance to connect with others who understand their experiences and to feel a real sense of belonging—on and off the mat. 

Stephen Somerville, JudoScotland’s Disability Development Officer, shared: 

“The Parasport Festivals are a brilliant way for young people and coaches to grow and learn together. Judo really is for everyone, and it’s a joy to see its values—like respect, courage, and friendship—being lived out in such a vibrant and inclusive way. We’re honoured to play a part in something that brings so many smiles and so much growth.” 

A huge thank you goes out to Tayside Judo Club, Jidel Judo, and Castle Douglas Judo Club. Your energy, support, and dedication helped make these events such a fantastic success! 

“I am very proud of the pupils and I’m very proud of the community that we are becoming as a result of being involved in this project.”  Bart, Active Schools Coordinator  

“It has changed them massively. I can’t recommend this highly enough” Sharon McDonald, Pupil Support Assistant 

One year on from launching their joint project with Perth & Kinross Active Schools, Perth Grammar School is celebrating the powerful impact of using judo to empower young people.

Tayside Judo Club sessions based at Perth Grammar School offer more than just physical activity; it fosters community integration, supports mental health and wellbeing, and helps develop key employability and life skills. At its heart, the project is about building stronger, more connected communities through the values of judo.

Each week throughout the academic year, targeted pupils including those who can’t access a traditional classroom setting take part in judo and strength and conditioning sessions. These sessions go beyond promoting physical fitness, they offer a valuable platform for learning and personal development, grounded in the core values and principles of judo, such as mutual respect and making a positive contribution to society.

In partnership with Enable Works Scotland and sportscotland Modern Apprentice Programme we are excited to welcome Emma McInulty to the team.

Emma joined JudoScotland on 31st March 2025 to begin her 18-month apprenticeship with the JudoScotland Business Support Team, supporting with membership services, administration and JudoScotland events.

Working in collaboration with both sportscotland and ENABLE Works, the goal of the Modern Apprentice Programme is to support a young person with disabilities into employment to gain valuable work experience whilst simultaneously gaining a qualification.

Disabled people are often underrepresented across all aspects of the sporting system, therefore this scheme aims to identify ways of diversifying the workforce and recruiting more young people into jobs.

In addition to completing their qualification and gaining experience in the workplace, the young people will also be invited to networking events quarterly to meet with other apprentices to share experiences and build a support network to share ideas and offer support to each other.

The initiative is led by sportscotland and Enable Works with the support of employers such as JudoScotland. JudoScotland is one of several Scottish Governing Bodies, Local Authorities and National Partners who were approached to participate in the scheme. Through the programme, JudoScotland will have access to a suite of workshops and CPD opportunities on inclusivity.

Speaking about her new role Emma shared her excitement to get started:

“I’m really excited to join JudoScotland and get stuck into my new role. I think it will really help me to grow my confidence in the workplace and gain an extra qualification.

“The thing I am most looking forward to is helping with events. I’ve volunteered at a couple of JudoScotland events in the past so I’m quite interested in seeing how they come together in the background and all the work that goes into making them possible.”

A brief update from the JudoScotland Chair Marc Preston on activity in March.

Dear Members,

The monthly cycle started off on the 2nd March with the Strathkelvin Mon, Kyu and Dan Open. This is an event that’s been designed for beginners and less experienced players, to give them an introduction to competitive judo. As we know, it’s very important that the judo community gets a wide and varied range of competitions and I’m delighted to see clubs enhancing the opportunities available.

A few days later Judith and myself attended a lunch hosted by the Scottish Sports Association in celebration of International Women’s Day. The lunch was attended by the First Minister, John Swinney, plus around 20 other invited guests from the sports sector. It provided us with a good opportunity to showcase the positive work being done within the judo community across Scotland to accelerate women & girls’ engagement.

A quick reminder, that we had a major milestone on 10th March: 500 days to go until Glasgow 2026! I know it sounds like a long way off, but it’ll come round in a flash!

On Tuesday 11th we had an online board meeting. This was an extra session due to the amount of work currently being processed. Thank you to all the Board and staff for committing to this slot. I’ve been finding that we are needing more top-up sessions to get through our ever -increasing workload.

During the same period, Gordon McCathie, our Vice Chair, has been leading the appraisals of the Board of Directors, some of which I’ve been personally involved with. Thank you Gordon for your time in this very important piece of work.

On 17th March I had my appraisal from British Judo for my Home Nations representation on the Board. I spent a good hour with British Judo Chair Gerry Gualtieri and a further extended time afterwards with him discussing other, broader issues!

Back to JS business, we had our Board meeting on the 25th to which we invited our Vice Presidents (Rick Kenney, Jim Feenan and Graham Campbell) and our President (Colin McIver). As always their input is important for our organisation moving forward.

The final weekend of the month rounded off with the Hibari Kan at Ravenscraig, part of JudoScotland’s Grand Prix series. I was there for a limited time, but unfortunately wasn’t able to stay as long as I would’ve liked due to personal commitments. For those I didn’t have the chance to catch-up with – I do apologise but we’ll speak next time!

Across at Inverclyde we were delighted to welcome Sensei Yoshihiko Iura to lead on an outstanding Kata Weekend sharing his extensive knowledge in Nage no Kata and Kime no Kata.

Roll on April.

Marc Preston, 7th Dan

The Scottish Government have passed changes to the law around PVG’s, called the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 which will be implemented on the 1st of April 2025.

JudoScotland have been working with Volunteer Scotland Disclosure Services (VSDS) to clarify and understand how these changes will impact judo clubs. Together, we have prepared guidance to help clubs adapt and comply with the updated legislation.

Online information sessions were delivered in March for clubs, led by Wendy McBeth, Compliance and Training Officer at Volunteer Scotland Disclosure Services. If you missed our online training session there is a recording of the session available to watch on our website.

We have been delighted by the positive response from clubs so far that recognise the importance of understanding the new PVG requirements and the impact it has on their club.

Additional information to help clubs prepare for the changes coming on the 1st April 2025 to the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 has been complied onto the webpage here.