MSPs push Lottery demand for Games

Published on Saturday 20 September 2008 19:41

MSPs are to formally call on the UK Government this week to release lottery funding to secure a lasting legacy for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The full Parliament is expected to support the move following a debate at Holyrood on Thursday when politicians from all parties will call for more lottery cash to boost sport across Scotland ahead of the spectacular.

Former First Minister Jack McConnell is among those who have now thrown their weight behind the campaign, launched by Scotland on Sunday last month.

McConnell revealed for the first time that, while First Minister, he had requested lottery funding from UK ministers but had been informed that there were no funds available.

The campaign began following complaints that millions of pounds of lottery cash which would have come to Scotland is instead being spent on the escalating costs of the London 2012 Olympics.

While sports administrators and politicians in Scotland say they want the London Olympics to be a success, they argue that it should not be at the expense of ensuring the Glasgow Commonwealth games is the catalyst for a revolution in Scotland's sporting infrastructure.

The extra lottery funding on the back of the Games could be used to recruit coaches to train elite athletes and to improve sports facilities across Scotland. Glasgow city chiefs also say they need more funding to ensure the new facilities being built for the games do not become "white elephants".

The debate this week is being called by independent Lothian MSP Margo MacDonald. A parliamentary motion in her name, calling for a substantial sum of lottery funding to be made available by UK ministers, has now been signed by 17 MSPs from all of the parliamentary parties.

MacDonald said: "This lottery money would be spent on giving people a real lift to capitalise on the 2014 games in a way that ensures they have a real impact on the whole country."

McConnell has also signed MacDonald's motion. He revealed how he and Labour's ex-sports minister, Patricia Ferguson, had requested lottery funding from their UK counterparts when the Glasgow bid was being put together.

The former First Minister said: "I made clear that the diversion of lottery funding in support of the London Olympics required an investment from the lottery and UK resources in Scottish sport for 2014. There are few more enthusiastic supporters of the 2012 games than I am but it is important that the distribution of lottery funding is seen to be fair and it is vital that the 2014 games are a success for the whole of the United Kingdom, not just Scotland."

He added: "I have no doubt that the Manchester Commonwealth games were a very important step towards the success of British sport at this year's Olympics. And that just reinforces the need to ensure the 2014 games provides a step change for Scotland."

Scotland on Sunday's campaign is also being backed by Sportscotland, the national sports agency. Last week, Louise Martin, the chair of the agency, warned that – on current funding levels – it would not be able to both train elite athletes ahead of the 2014 games and maintain grassroots support.

The Scottish Government claims that 150m of funding has been diverted from Scotland to pay for the London Olympics. In total, 2.2bn of Lottery cash is being spent in London to prepare for the huge event. Although the Glasgow Games, which are expected to cost 300m, are already funded, organisers believe it is only fair that lottery funding is offered on top of that to create a sporting legacy for the city and Scotland.

Campaigners point out that the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002 received 112m in funding from the National Lottery. The money was used to spur the regeneration of east Manchester and the provision of a number of sporting facilities.

McConnell also said the SNP Government should put more energy into backing elite sport in Scotland. He criticised the decision to merge the Scottish Institute of Sport – the body which trains Scotland's top sportsmen and women – within the Sportscotland agency.

"In the light of the Olympics, I would hope that the SNP would review their decision to downgrade the Scottish Institute of Sport. All over Britain, there is evidence that the performance of medal winners has inspired youngsters to take part in sport.

"Elite performers are not a luxury. They are role models who can change the attitudes of generations. A distinctive, properly funded Institute of Sport is a pre-requisite for international success."

UK ministers have said there is no lottery funding available. They have also pointed out that the Glasgow Commonwealth bid team did not make a formal application for lottery cash.

The Scots athletes to watch

JOSH TAYLOR, boxing

The 17-year-old boxer is already fighting his corner by winning silver in the British Youth Championships in July, and he hopes to be picked for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, in October.

The Prestonpans teenager has been boxing at flyweight for only 12 months, but has a good grounding in combat sports as he has also been a tae kwon do British champion.

MYRA PERKINS, hammer

The Falkirk 16-year-old's personal best throw is an incredible 52.02m, an impressive distance for a girl of her age. She walked away from the under-17 UK championships with a gold medal this year, and achieved a silver medal in the under-20 championships.

She is tipped to be one of the best athletes in her event by the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

AMY HAMILTON, weightlifting

This 16-year-old girl is a junior champion in three different age categories, and has defended her titles for the second year running.

One of the best young female weightlifters of her generation, Hamilton, from Knightswood in Glasgow, started off doing acro-gymnastics, which combines circus acrobatics and traditional gymnastics.