Meeting of the Parliament 07 August 2014
Maximising the benefits that are delivered as a result of the games will also depend on harnessing that energy and the spirit of commitment and co-operation. Like me, everybody will know somebody who knows someone from somewhere who made the games “pure dead brilliant” and the best ever.
There is not enough time to thank all the sportspeople, parliamentarians, councillors and officials who were involved in the bid, which was instigated in 2006, or everyone who was involved in the planning and development of the games, including Glasgow City Council, which was an excellent host; North Lanarkshire Council, which hosted the triathlon at Strathclyde park, which was immaculate and fantastic as well as the place where the first medal of the games was awarded; and North Lanarkshire Leisure, which provided the training facilities at Ravenscraig’s regional sports centre.
I congratulate all our competitors and medal winners, who deserve all the praise that has been heaped on them for their dedication and for making the games compulsive viewing, especially for a couch potato such as me—I assure members that that is about to change. What a delight it was to see the gold medal won by Wishaw postman and lightweight boxer Charlie Flynn. Like many others, I shared the surprise when the judges decided that Motherwell’s Reece McFadden, who should have been on his way to gold, would have to settle for a bronze medal.
Last, but definitely not least, I thank the volunteers, who all did such a magnificent job, and everyone who worked with the national teams or at events and who was out and about helping the public to make the most of the games.
Of course, we hope that all the success, added to the experience of those who visited and those who watched around the world, will have a lasting legacy. As the minister said, there are good reasons to hope that that will be the case, not least of which is the way in which the Commonwealth games took advantage of the Olympic games in London that preceded them. That helped with the development of facilities and the performance of sportspeople throughout the UK. North Lanarkshire’s facilities will, I hope, bring the British transplant games here in 2017. I am sure that the Parliament will join me in wishing the council every success in its bid.
Many sports are supported at a UK level, with UK-wide facilities. There is also tremendous UK co-operation and camaraderie in all sports. The Olympics provided the template and the platform for the games and both were utilised in the planning of Glasgow 2014; it also encouraged the growth of public interest in a wide range of sports.
These really were the friendly games, as all competitors were given great support and all visitors warmly welcomed. That was often especially true for the supposed auld enemy, with English athletes being rousingly cheered to victory. We now have to take the combined achievements of the UK and its nations, competing together and in friendly rivalry, and build on that to take Scottish and UK sport to the next level.
The Commonwealth games legacy for Scotland exists at many levels. There are the obvious and often highlighted economic aspects, such as regeneration, tourism and international trade, as well as the benefits for sport and the consequences of that for better health. Some of the benefits are not so obvious, such as boosting social capital. That is one part of the legacy that has to be harnessed—not tomorrow, next week or after the referendum but immediately.
Some of the volunteers will be involved in various forms of activity; for others I heard talking about the games, it was an invigorating new experience. I welcome the Scotland’s best initiative being opened up to young Clyde-siders, but we also need to channel the tremendous energy and commitment of the Clyde-siders into other areas, into their communities, into the voluntary sector and into civic activity. Those benefits will not just happen—or, at least, they will not be maximised—without a concerted effort to promote and sustain them.
The national lottery is spending £15 million on games-related funding, but the opportunities to access that funding are coming to an end, so what will be done to match the volunteers with further opportunities?
The next few months will be a crucial time during which we can build on the success of the Commonwealth games. The Scottish Government has the power to do that and it needs to use that power. I hope that the result of the referendum will allow us to concentrate on developing the benefits of working together within Scottish and UK sport, and within our communities, to further the spirit of the games.
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