Games 'Inspiring Scots Into Sport'

The success of Scottish athletes at the Commonwealth Games has inspired more people into sport, according to a survey.

Ross Murdoch's 200m breaststroke gold medal was seen as the most inspiring sporting moment'', closely followed by Charlie Flynn's lightweight boxing gold and Lynsey Sharp's silver medal in the 800m.

Their exploits, along with the rest of Team Scotland, sparked greater interest in sport with 84% of people surveyed saying they have participated in sport since the Games and a majority are committed to maintaining an active lifestyle in 2015.

The survey of 1,000 people was carried out for the Scottish Government's Legacy 2014 programme to mark six months since the Games started.

Scottish athletes set a new national record by winning 53 medals, including 19 gold, at the Commonwealth Games.

As well as the sporting performances, the survey also found that the general feel good factor around the Games inspired people.

The opening and closing ceremonies of Glasgow 2014 and the atmosphere in the city during the event were seen as positives.

Sport Minister Jamie Hepburn said: Today marks the six-month milestone since the start of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and I'm delighted that Scots are still inspired by the Games, which were a fantastic collaboration of sporting and cultural achievements.

Many people have already made new year's resolutions to be more physically active in 2015 and I will be working hard to increase sports participation and make sure that we get maximum benefit from the legacy of the Games.''

Legacy 2014 was set up by the Government to improve employment, training, learning and sporting uptake after the Games.

Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, said: This survey is further proof of the positive legacy impact of Scotland hosting the Commonwealth Games.

At sportscotland we used the Glasgow Games to accelerate our plans for a world-class sporting system at every level. Supported by investment from the Scottish Government and National Lottery, we now have a very sophisticated sporting pathway connecting school, club and performance sport.

The high performance system is the best it has ever been with the sports, athletes and coaches working closely with the experts from the sportscotland institute of sport and it produced a record-breaking 53 medals for Team Scotland at Glasgow - an incredible performance on the global stage.

Community sport has been given a tremendous boost with 134 Community Sport Hubs operating right across all of Scotland's local authorities and from our £10 million investment into community clubs and Regional Development Officers, and there are now far more and better opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take part in sport and physical activity.''

Meanwhile, Glasgow City Council has said Scottish companies won £510 million of the £669 million contracts generated by the Games.

More than 780 graduates gained employment through the council's Commonwealth Graduate Fund, 917 unemployed people secured jobs through the Commonwealth Jobs Fund, and 321 people found jobs through the Commonwealth Youth Fund, according to the council.

Council leader Gordon Matheson said: The world knows that Glasgow delivered the best Commonwealth Games there have ever been. But the Games were always about much more than 11 spectacular days of sport and cultural festival, however wonderful and memorable. What matters most are the lasting benefits for the people of Glasgow.

It's enormously heartening to read these hugely impressive figures about the jobs, apprenticeships and contracts gained by Glasgow people and businesses as a result of our Games.

We also retain the skills, facilities and enhanced international reputation that ensures we will continue to attract world-class events in the future.''