The Scottish governing body of athletics confirms it will ask for answers from Gold Coast 2018 organisers.
scottishathletics, in partnership with Commonwealth Games Scotland, will make an official request for answers from the Gold Coast 2018 local organising committee on issues arising from the men’s marathon.
The final athletics event in Australia saw long-time race leader Callum Hawkins collapse with heat exhaustion some 2K from the finish line.
Hawkins was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital and later discharged, ahead of the Scottish team’s return home to the UK.
The 25 year-old’s Team Scotland team-mate, Robbie Simpson, duly came through for a superb bronze medal as Australia’s Michael Shelley successfully defended the title he won at Glasgow 2014.
But with seven of the 24-strong field failing to finish the Commonwealth Games marathon – and six of those believed to have been admitted to hospital while the race was still underway – there are serious concerns.
scottishathletics chief executive Mark Munro is determined to pursue the issue using the formal auspices of Commonwealth Games Scotland (who manage Team Scotland) so that lessons can be learned for those involved.
“We are making a joint submission to the Gold Coast Organising Committee with Commonwealth Games Scotland,” said Munro. “There are a number of key questions arising out of events on marathon day that we feel need to be addressed.”
Among the questions being asked are:
1) The timing and scheduling of the event with the men’s race starting at 8.15am local time, as temperatures pushed towards 30 degrees.
2) The risk assessments carried out in advance.
3)The medical response time with Callum Hawkins left lying on the roadside unattended for some considerable time.
4) TV footage which was beamed around the world of Callum in distress – as family members watched back home in Scotland in the middle of the night.
It is hoped that scottishathletics may be able to make public any response received, if appropriate and agreed accordingly.