Former First Minister: 2014 Games legacy 'didn't go far enough'

Former First Minister Jack McConnell says more "should've been done" to make sure Scotland's poorest communities benefited from the legacy left by the 2014 Commonwealth Games

McConnell was in charge when the bid to bring the Games to Scotland was first launched.

Three years on from the event that saw some of the world's biggest sport stars compete in the country, the former First Minister says there hasn't been enough investment in legacy across the nation.

"We've seen, since Glasgow 2014, the impact of a successful, major sporting event on our doorstep on our very best top athletes," he said.

"In so many sports now - maybe even some non-traditional Scottish sports - we see young competitors coming through, challenging on the world stage with the confidence to do that, and the professional backup that helps them achieve their success.

"But I don't think that after 2014 the investment in legacy across Scotland went far enough, and deep enough."

He continued: "I do believe there's much more that should've been done and can still be done to make sure youngsters in Scotland's poorer communities - and perhaps the more remote communities as well - can actually access sporting venues, sports coaching and the opportunity to exercise on a regular basis that'll make a difference to them, and maybe inspire them into competition as well."

Although Jack McConnell had long since left Holyrood when the Games finally arrived, he played a crucial part in the long-term planning of the project.

"I will be forever proud - chuffed as anything, is probably the way to put it - about the impact that the Games had on Glasgow and Scotland.

"The Games themselves were everything we could've dreamed of: a major success, well-organised, entertaining, competitive, and successful for our competitors.

"I think - three years on - there is still an impact on our elite sportsmen and women, but I do wish that we could invest a bit more and take a bit more time to make sure that deep into Scotland's communities, young people and others can access these opportunities, make the most of them, and maybe be inspired to be the next champion."

His comments come as Team Scotland unveiled the first set of team sports set to compete in next year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia.

Netball, Men’s Basketball and Men’s Rugby Sevens will all be represented as Team Scotland aims for its best-ever overseas Games.

It’ll be a second successive Games for Netball, having enjoyed and benefited from the experience of Glasgow 2014, where they finished eighth, four places above their ranking going in to the competition.

Basketball makes its first return to the Commonwealth Games sport programme since 2006 where it made its Games debut. Scotland’s men will get their second taste of Team Scotland representation having finished sixth in Melbourne.

Men’s Rugby Sevens also had their place confirmed and will compete for Team Scotland in their fifth Commonwealth Games.

Following success in the 2016-17 HSBC Sevens World Series, with a notable win at the final event in London and with new coach John Dalziel at the helm, the team will be aiming to build on their seventh place finish in Glasgow 2014.

Scotland Sevens Head Coach John Dalziel said: "Everyone is very focused and excited at the start of a huge season for Rugby Sevens. The opportunity to be selected, to represent your country in a Commonwealth Games is very special and everyone is driving towards this.

"The memories of Glasgow 2014 and the way the Scottish crowd got behind the team are very special, the players and everyone involved will be looking to inspire those supporters and look forward to their passionate support in the Gold Coast."