In August, Scottish athletes enjoyed their most successful overseas Olympics in history. Scottish competitors taking part individually or in team events secured four gold medals, seven silver medals and two bronze medals in Rio de Janeiro.
In September, it was the turn of our Paralympians to do Scotland proud in Brazil. This time Scottish competitors taking part individually or in team events secured five gold medals, eight silver medals and four bronze medals – exceeding their tally from London 2012.
All in all, 28 Scots scaled the podium in Rio and all of them feature in our montage (above). Many other athletes broke national records, recorded personal bests and surpassed expectations and targets.
So we have lots to look forward to when Scotland's Olympians, Paralympians and support staff attend the official homecoming celebrations, entitled #CelebrateTheGreat.
A fitting location
The celebrations to honour the Scots on Team GB and ParalympicsGB will take place in Oriam, Scotland’s new national performance centre based at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, on Wednesday, September 28.
All of the Scottish Olympians and Paralympians are invited to the post-Games celebrations, which will include an event with an audience of school children from around the country, members of Community Sport Hubs, Young Ambassadors, the Young people’s sports panel, governing bodies of sport, and members of the public.
How you can tune in
The #CelebrateTheGreat event will also be streamed live on sportscotland social media channels to ensure that the wider public has the opportunity to enjoy proceedings from Oriam. From 12pm on the day we will be broadcasting on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Periscope and Snapchat.
Commenting on the plans for the homecoming celebrations, sportscotland Chief Executive Stewart Harris said: “It’s testament to all the hard work by the athletes, sports, coaches and the collaboration between UK Sport and the sportscotland institute of sport that Scottish athletes delivered record-breaking performances in Rio.
“At sportscotland we are working with our partners to build a world-class sporting system linking schools, clubs and performance sport to ensure that those inspired by the achievements of our sporting stars have a clear and sustainable pathway in place to help them achieve their own potential.
“The homecoming celebrations will provide a fitting tribute to the Scottish Olympians and Paralympians, and where better to have the post-Games event than at Oriam, Scotland’s brand new, world class national performance centre?”
Inspiring the next generation
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “All of Scotland’s sportsmen and women on Team GB and ParalympicsGB have done the country proud. I hope their performances will help to inspire the next generation of Scottish Olympians and Paralympians.”
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Donald Wilson said: "This is the Scottish capital’s chance to welcome home its Olympic and Paralympic heroes and to honour their outstanding achievements in Rio. The success of Team GB has been truly historic and the homecoming will be a fitting way to demonstrate the city’s pride.
"Of course, the event will also showcase Edinburgh’s fantastic new facilities at Oriam. This world-class national performance centre will support the future of sport in Scotland and the development of the nation’s professional athletes.”
How the day will unfold
Following the event at Oriam, Edinburgh City Council has arranged an engagement in the city centre designed at offering the athletes a 'public show of appreciation'. This will take place at 3pm in Edinburgh's Festival Square and sportscotland will continue with social media coverage throughout the afternoon.
Later, Commonwealth Games Scotland has organised an evening of celebration and recognition at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre where the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards 2016 will take place.
