Salmond launches quest for £150 million Commonwealth Games funding

Published on Friday 15 February 2008 12:11

THE Scottish Government is to seek £150 million from Lottery bosses to help create a lasting legacy for Scotland from the 2014 Commonwealth Games, it was revealed today.

The move was disclosed by First Minister Alex Salmond when he launched a consultation exercise into ways that Scotland could gain long-term benefits from the Glasgow event.

The Games are estimated to cost the public purse some 298 million.

But Mr Salmond told today's consultation launch that seeking Lottery funding for the legacy effect, rather than towards the cost of the Games themselves, was in accord with what Lottery bosses had told a Scottish Parliament committee.

"It is well known that funding for the London Olympics is costing Lottery good causes in Scotland some 150 million," said the First Minister.

"It is entirely reasonable therefore to call for an equivalent sum to be returned to Scotland to help us deliver a real, lasting legacy for the whole of Scotland.

"The entire country is behind the 2014 Games.

"Consultation on the legacy is a first step in the process – the next steps will include pursuing Lottery funding and developing our detailed legacy plans."

Possible long-term benefits from the Games are set out in a 58-page consultation paper published today with a May 9 deadline for responses.

Among the possibilities floated in the document is a ban on private car parking at Games venues, with public transport available for all spectators, as part of a drive to cutting transport emissions.

Junk food could also be banned from Games venues as part of a wider drive for healthy eating in Scotland.

The document raises the possibility of contracts "for supplies of healthy food only" at Games venues.

The Games could also be used to help Scotland's battle with alcohol by encouraging coffee shops and other non-licensed premises to stay longer in the evenings.

The document also suggests exploring the possibility of training the 15,000 strong army of volunteers who will help out at the Games in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as part of the wider drive to reduce deaths from coronary heart disease.

The Games could also feed into the government's economic strategy by using the event to market the fresh talent initiative.

The events could even form part of the drive against crime – by improving jobs opportunities for offenders or those at risk of offending.

And those convicted of minor offences in or around Games facilities could serve community sentences in those areas, receiving proper supervision where necessary.

The document also sets out sporting ambitions for the coming years.

For the 2012 London Olympics the aim is to have between 45 and 65 Scottish athletes competing, and winning ten medals.

For the 2014 Commonwealth Games the aim is to have a record number of Scottish medallists winning a record number of gold medals.

Today's launch came as MSPs today gave their backing to new laws aimed at protecting the 2014 Games from ticket touts.

A Holyrood committee report endorsed the general principals of a Bill creating the legal powers to organise and police the Games.

But the MSPs raised concerns about the powers of temporary enforcement officers who will be taken on specifically to deal with Games offences.

Police have raised concerns with Holyrood's local government committee and today's report said: "It is clear that significant concerns remain regarding the recruitment and powers of the enforcement officers and the powers granted to them through this Bill."