By Tom Degun

Shona Robison with rugby ballJanuary 12 - Scotland's Minister for the Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison has claimed that the country is united in working as hard as possible to make Glasgow 2014 an event to be proud of.


Expectations for Glasgow 2014 have skyrocketed following the hugely successful London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games but the Scottish city looks to be on course for a superb event after the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) heaped praise on preparations for the competition following their most recent inspection visit at the end of last year.

Robison admits that she is happy that preparations are well on track but warned that the city cannot get complacent as they enter the penultimate year of planning for the Games.

"The 2014 Commonwealth Games are vital for Scotland," Robison told insidethegames on the eve of the official opening of the programme to recruit 15,000 volunteers. 

"We are talking about the biggest sporting event in the history of the country and that provides us with huge opportunities.

"The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to using the Commonwealth Games to develop a legacy not only for Glasgow but for the whole of Scotland.

"It is a fantastic opportunity to get young people into sport, especially with the world-class facilities we are building that are also public facilities.

"It is also an opportunity to showcase all that is best about Scotland and we feel we are on the right track to do that.

"However, we must continue to work just as hard as ever as we race towards 2014 to ensure Glasgow, and Scotland, hosts a Commonwealth Games everyone can be proud of."

"And if we get it right, Glasgow 2014 will be a Commonwealth Games to be proud of."

Robison, who was appointed Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond in May 2011, added that Glasgow are also looking to build on the atmosphere and excitement witnessed at London 2012.

usain-bolt-2012Shona Robison says she wants Glasgow 2014 to continue the momentum created by the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics

"I was very fortunate to be down in London for the Olympics and of course the Paralympics and sample that amazing atmosphere in the venues and across the city," she said.

"It was a fantastic event and a great learning experience for us ahead of Glasgow 2014.

"We had an observer programme going on behind the scenes so that we could take on any lessons and apply them to Glasgow.

"We all came out of London 2012 wanting to keep that momentum and excitement around the Games going into Glasgow 2014 and we will be working very hard to do that."

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