Hansard

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome you and your colleagues to your posts. I also congratulate my colleagues Siobhian Brown and Maree Todd on their re-elections, and I welcome Maree Todd back to her sports portfolio—I know how much she loves it.

Ms Todd and I have a common goal, which is to increase the amount of Gaelic that is spoken in the Parliament. I am on my sixth year of Duolingo and, on Friday, this phrase popped up on my screen:

“Is lugha orm poilitigs … is fheàrr leam iomain”.

That means, “I dislike politics … I prefer shinty”. That is not entirely true. However, those two subjects are linked not only in Duolingo, but in my life. Shinty could be described as the beating heart of sport in Argyll and Bute. It was only after being elected that I experienced the excitement of a shinty match—from the joy of seeing the young players tournament at the Dalmally show to attending the Macaulay cup final in Oban last year—and I look forward to the Camanachd cup and the Macaulay cup in Oban this September. The passion, the camaraderie, the rivalry, the pride of winning, the pain of losing and the togetherness are all part of life’s skills, whether one is playing or spectating.

I am so pleased to hear the minister's fantastic announcement about the joint working between the Camanachd Association and Scottish Golf. My constituent Bob MacIntyre is a great example of shifting from one discipline to the other, having played with Oban Camanachd and now playing on the greens of golf courses across the world.

As I have just said, togetherness and life skills are what we see on a shinty field. That is one of the many reasons why the summer of sport is so important and why I believe that ensuring that there are opportunities for participation in sport, regardless of where you live, is absolutely key. Sport teaches not only life skills, but a healthy way to thrive. The Atlantis Leisure centre in Oban and Lorn and Oban Healthy Options promote exactly that, through their fitness, prehab and rehab sessions. I have heard from young and old about the difference that a focus on swimming, exercise and sport has made to their health and recovery, and it is inspirational. The Happy Wee Health Club in Oban also finds colourful ways to engage young people in sport and fitness.

As the minister said, the summer of sport links clearly with the population health framework. As the minister and Gillian Mackay have noted, physical activity provides opportunities to connect and come together in activities that inspire and motivate.

Sport in Argyll and Bute is inextricably linked to its landscape and seascape. I disagree with what Donald MacKinnon said in his opening speech—my apologies—but Argyll and Bute is Scotland’s most beautiful constituency, not just because of the landscape and the seascape but because of the people. I thank them for returning me as their MSP. To serve the people of Argyll and Bute is the biggest privilege of my life.

Two weeks ago, I attended a Surfers Against Sewage event, or, as the schoolkids in Tighnabruaich say, a jobbie-free sea event. I spoke to many people who emphasised how much they valued having the wonderful sea resource on their doorstep, especially as it gives them the ability to exercise and enjoy sport. We have to ensure that we keep our seas as clean as they can be, so that people can take part in paddling at Tighnabruaich, wild swimming in Seil, surfing in Tiree, stone skimming in Easdale, yachting around the nooks and crannies of the coastline of Argyll and its isles, or the international clipper race that is sailing into Oban in July. Those are all fantastic opportunities for us to showcase Scotland, and Argyll and Bute, on the international stage, as well as for us to keep active. We need to continue to invest to ensure that our coastline and waterways are at the highest standard.

I welcome, too, the investment that has been provided for every primary school child to learn to swim. That policy will make a real difference, not only in supporting swimming facilities in our communities but in building skills that will undoubtedly save lives.

For the length and breadth of Argyll and Bute, communities continue to work together to ensure that sport and exercise are accessible. The fabulous Adventure Oban is a community-led outdoor activity charity that supports equal access for all to Oban’s natural playground. This weekend, its big bike weekend is returning with lots of fun for all the family. Tayinloan has just confirmed that it will be building a biking pump track—a fantastic example of a village community working together, thinking big and using sport and exercise as the focus of their community cohesion and so invigorating their community.

I will briefly touch on ferries. The ferry timetable can be a barrier to participation in sport for island children. That was raised with me by a group of parents on the fantastic new Isle of Islay ferry. I met Caledonian MacBrayne this morning and pressed home to it that I hope that it, along with Transport Scotland, will ensure that the community voice is heard in future timetable discussions.

I am drawing to a close, Presiding Officer. I started with a Gaelic phrase and I will end with one. It is the final line of the poem “Iomain”, written by our Gaelic makar, Peter Mackay, which he penned for the opening of the Shinty museum in Inverness. I think that it rings true for all sports, and especially for the summer of sport.

“Seo e a-nis: nach tig sibh a dh’iomain?”

Okay, then, won’t you come and join me in shinty?