Tonia Lushington, Secretary General of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association, has been appointed as the Chef de Mission for the Island’s team at the 2014 Games in Glasgow. Tonia joined the Isle of Man CGA in 2007 as Secretary and the Glasgow 2014 Games will be the second time she has been Chef de Mission for Team Isle of Man having performed the same role at the 2010 Games in Delhi. The Chef de Mission is the principal representative for competing teams and the key managerial figure who liaises with the organising committee for the Games. In Glasgow, Tonia will be responsible for all admin issues for the Isle of Man squad and in overall charge of the team within the Games Village. The Chef de Mission role involves overseeing the duties of all team members including athletes, coaches, managers, physiotherapists, and medical staff.
Tonia first travelled with Team Isle of Man to the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India. She was also present in her role as Isle of Man CGA Secretary General at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games which the Isle of Man hosted. Juliet Holt, President of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association, was also present at both the 2008 and 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games. Following the Delhi Commonwealth Games the Isle of Man CGA’s committee decided that the organisation of the team in India had been so successful that the individuals who had taken up key managerial roles at those Games should be offered the same positions for the 2014 Games. Tonia said she was delighted and proud to be appointed Chef de Mission for a second time. She commented:
“I find myself enthralled by the level of commitment of our competitors and deem it a privilege to work with and encourage them all at Games time. I like being part of a committed and efficient team and am fascinated by how the Commonwealth Games movement works, evolves, and the Games take place, at both local and national level. For a small Island we have achieved a remarkable level of success at the Commonwealth Games and I look forward to helping all of our team realise their potential at Glasgow 2014.”
Tonia has not represented the Island as a competitor at the Commonwealth Games, but she has represented the Isle of Man on many occasions at other events, mainly in clay shooting. Tonia has won silver medals at the Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships and Island Games, and is also a keen participant in tennis, netball, hockey, sailing, and golf.
Photo caption - Tonia Lushington, Secretary General of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association, has been appointed as the Chef de Mission for the Island’s team at the 2014 Games in Glasgow.
