Scotland could compete as an independent nation at Rio 2016

Andy Murray could be holding up the Scottish flag instead of the British one at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro if a national referendum in September next year decides that Scotland should become an independent country (Getty Images)

Scotland is contemplating participating as an independent nation in the upcoming Summer Olympics at Rio de Janeiro in 2016 as well as the subsequent para-lympics, reports TOI.

The nation has until date competed along with the other British nations as Great Britain – which includes England, Wales, Republic of Ireland and Scotland.

There are of course a few conditions that all independent participating nations need to meet and Scottish sports minister Shona Robison said that these would be met before the referendum meeting on September 18 next year.

The decision has to receive approval at the referendum along with a go-ahead from its government to participate under the auspices of the Scottish flag.

If it does materialize, it could pose a huge blow for the Great Britain’s Olympic outfit as 13 out of their 65 medals (20%) were won by 11 Scottish athletes in last year’s London Olympics – 7 gold (29 overall), 4 silver and 1 bronze.

The two sports that will suffer majorly will be tennis and cycling. Andy Murray, now a double Grand Slam champion and the defending Olympic champion in men’s singles, could no longer be a part of their squad. Along with Murray, cycling champ Chris Hoy, who also won gold, would also move away to the Scottish contingent.

The two big names GB will lose are tennis sensation Andy Murray and track cycling star Chris Hoy, both of whom won gold in London. Scotland had a hand in more than 18% of GB’s medals (13 out of 65) and almost a quarter of their gold (seven out of 29). Around 20% (one in five) of Team GB’s Scottish athletes won medals (11 out of 55).

A new performance centre costing in the range of £25m has been gifted to Scotland’s athletes to enable them to have the best possible preparation for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in 2014, which will be held in their own backyard in Glasgow.

First minister Alex Salmond announced in the Scottish Parliament that the referendum will ask voters “Should Scotland be an independent country?”

Mr Salmond said, “On 18th September 2014, people across Scotland will vote to determine their country’s future. It will be a historic day, and one on which this ancient nation decides its place in the world. People will be able to choose if they want a Scotland that is independent and able to make her own decisions.”

He added, “Scotland has made great strides since our national Parliament was reconvened in 1999 after almost 300 years.” The costs of running and regulating the referendum will be £8.6 million.