Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 07 August 2014
07 Aug 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Commonwealth Games (Legacy)
I will plead the fifth on that, if the member does not mind.
I did finally get tickets to see the boxing on the Saturday, at the Hydro. I enjoyed that—it was a great event. Part of the legacy is the fantastic facilities in Glasgow.
This was the first time that the para-sports were worked into a major games. I think that that is a true legacy of the games. It made a difference, because some great stories came out of the para-sports. What team Scotland did was just inspirational.
Glasgow made sure that its state-of-the art facilities were enjoyed by athletes and tourists. I went to George Square to see for myself, when Stacey had to go to hospital for an MRI scan, and £100 later I had a nice team Scotland hoodie—at 45 I am the oldest hoodie that members have ever seen. The atmosphere was fantastic. It shows what we can do.
The cabinet secretary is aware that in Paisley we are working with Kelburne Hockey Club and St Mirren Football Club to try to get a sports hub in the town. Let us hope that the legacy will be projects such as that—projects that make a difference and ensure that children from places such as Ferguslie Park in Paisley can have access to sports and aspire to be as good as the athletes in team Scotland.
16:09In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is a debate on motion S4M-10736, in the name of Shona Robison, on the legacy of the 20th Commonweal...
The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
With the spectacular success of the Commonwealth games and team Scotland’s record medal haul fresh in our minds, I am delighted to address members on the leg...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted by that most welcome announcement, as I am sure everybody who is connected with the Inverclyde national sports centre will be. Can the cabinet...
Shona Robison
SNP
I should first pay tribute to Kenny Gibson, who has been a real advocate for the Inverclyde centre. He has helped to bring people together to consider the ce...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
I am delighted with the announcement that the cabinet secretary made about the facility in Largs. As she knows, I have had a keen interest in disability spor...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I begin by reiterating congratulations to all those who helped to make the Commonwealth games such a successful and, indeed, memorable event. Whether it was ...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I am looking forward to an animated debate. I start by giving a big, warm thank you to everyone who took part in the games, from the athletes to the voluntee...
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
It is a pleasure to take part in this debate and to follow the enthusiasm of Sandra White. I echo the thanks to the minister. I could not have thought of a b...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I am afraid that you need to close now, Mr Smith.
Drew Smith
Lab
Finally, I have a suggestion that I hope that the cabinet secretary will consider. Perhaps we can return to this debate annually in the remaining years of th...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
I want to add my voice to those who have said that they consider the games to have been a huge success. I do not know whether it is because of my personal ma...
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the member for high-fiving me with that large green foam hand at Finnieston, while I was on my way to the women’s weightlifting finals. I think that ...
John Mason
SNP
I thank Mr Doris for that compliment. There were trickier tasks along the way. For example, with the one-way system at the SECC, people had to leave over th...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
I assure the member that, although on occasion I might have been a little tired after a nine-hour shift, I did not feel that the work was too difficult or to...
John Mason
SNP
I thank the member for that intervention. The advantage of having a lot of young people was the level of enthusiasm and energy that was evident. It was good...
John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)
Lab
Like others, I think that it is important to recognise that the organisational and sporting successes of the Commonwealth games have been the product of the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Mr Pentland, can you turn your microphone towards you slightly? Thank you.
John Pentland
Lab
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....
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
I join Drew Smith in welcoming Kenny Stewart to the chamber. I have a feeling that Kenny, like many of us, has a Commonwealth games hangover and is here for ...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I start by joining with James Dornan and colleagues across the chamber in the collective love-in for all those who made Glasgow 2014 work. It was, without qu...
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
It has been a good debate. We had the revelation from John Mason that he is too old to be responsibly left in charge of a foam finger and Sandra White has co...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
Many years ago, in the first session of Parliament, I had the good fortune to have the post of Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. It is fairly o...
Marco Biagi (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
SNP
When it comes to major sporting events, legacy is one of the issues that we debate hotly, not least the equality strand of the trifecta that has been mention...
Colin Keir (Edinburgh Western) (SNP)
SNP
As Liz Smith pointed out, the legacy from the most successful Commonwealth games ever is not easily defined. Every single person will have a view of what tha...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Glasgow for the friendly games and the biggest party ever but, 7 miles down the road in Paisley, I got no invite. There was no invite for George and ...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
I am really starting to feel sorry for George Adam, given that he did not have any tickets for the games, but did he apply?
George Adam
SNP
He did indeed, numerous times. I remember “Sweet Caroline” being sung by 40,000 fans at the rugby sevens, at Ibrox of all places. Who would have thought tha...
Marco Biagi
SNP
Is the member now doing more housework than previously?
George Adam
SNP
I will plead the fifth on that, if the member does not mind. I did finally get tickets to see the boxing on the Saturday, at the Hydro. I enjoyed that—it wa...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I begin my contribution to the debate by saying, “Thank you, Glasgow.” I thank all those who were involved in the games, which were a success because of thos...