Refurbished Scotstoun toleave legacy for Scotland

Scotstoun Stadium, in the west of the city, is famous for its distinctive blue athletics track and that remains at the centre of the refurbishment, but gone is the dilapidated old stand and in its place a two-storey state-of-the-art complex housing new hospitality suites, offices, sports medicine and physio suites, and an indoor sprint track with long-jump pit.

There are also new outdoor athletics facilities and the stadium sits adjacent to the leisure centre, swimming pool, sports halls, football and rugby pitches, indoor tennis centre and national badminton academy in what is now one of the most advanced sports venues in the UK.

During the Games, Scotstoun will host squash and table tennis and will be used as a training area for track and field athletes.

Managed by Culture and Sport, Glasgow Scotstoun will house the Glasgow Athletics Association and Glasgow Warriors rugby squad and management. The stadium has only a 5,000 capacity and the Warriors will continue to play at Firhill, with an agreement with Partick Thistle FC still with two years to run, but in all other aspects Scotstoun will be the Warriors new home.

It represents part of the 454million funding package put together for the 20th Commonwealth games, with Sportscotland supplying 4m to Scotstoun and Glasgow City Council the remaining 14m.

Stephen Purcell, the Glasgow City council leader, commented: "When Glasgow won the right to host the Games, I said it was the best thing to happen to my city in my lifetime and I believed it then and I believe it now. I also said that however magic the Games proved to be the real success would be whether there was a legacy for the people of Glasgow.

"This is another milestone in that legacy not just for Glasgow but for Scotland. This marks the start of a new era for sport in Scotland, but it is only a start. With the other planned Games arenas including national indoor sports arena, Sir Chris Hoy velodrome, Scotstoun and other facilities we will ensure that Glasgow is recognised as a centre of excellence"

HRH The Princess Royal, a former Olympian who is also patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, was given a tour of all the facilities and, before officially opening the stadium, told guests she hoped the stadium would become a popular part of Scottish sport long after the Games had left.