At the launch of "A games legacy for Scotland" at The People's Palace in Glasgow, First Minister Alex Salmond and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outlined how the Scottish Government and its partners aim to deliver long lasting benefits from the Games.

 

The plan has been launched with £18 million sportscotland funding from a total £25.5 million it has earmarked for the legacy.

This investment will support athletes, improve facilities, coaching, and together with key stakeholders, including Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Colsa), help to create a network of Community Sports Hubs across Scotland.

 

The legacy is also supported by £5.5 million planned investment from the Big Lottery Fund 2014 Communities Grants Programme which aims to build a legacy of wellbeing before and beyond the Games.

This funding follows on from £1.3 million already allocated up to 2010.

 

The legacy plan aims to create a healthier Scotland through Active Nation, the Government's new physical activity programme.

With health as the unifying theme, the plan focuses on four key areas:

· An Active Scotland - to get Scotland more active with people from all backgrounds living long, healthy lives

· A Connected Scotland - promoting learning and culture and creating strong international links

· A Sustainable Scotland - encouraging greener lifestyles and supporting the regeneration of the east end of Glasgow

· A Flourishing Scotland - developing business, skills and employment, tourism and promoting a positive image of Scotland as a place to live, visit, work, learn, invest and do business

Salmond (pictured) said: "The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games offer vast opportunities to put Scotland on the path to a healthier and more successful future.

 

"As well as having great ambitions for Scotland's sporting stars at the 2014 Games, this Government has great aspirations for the event to be a catalyst for physical, economic and social regeneration.

 

"A games legacy for Scotland outlines an ambitious long term approach that aims to capitalise on this once in a generation opportunity to host a major international sporting event in the heart of Scotland."

The Scottish Government hope to help fund the plan by recouping money from the National Lottery they claim has been unfairly taken from Scotland to help pay the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London.

 

Salmond said: "We will work to create new funding opportunities to support this ambitious programme and, with cross-party support, we will continue to make the case for the recovery of £150 million Lottery funds diverted from Scotland to pay for the London Olympics.

 

"Meanwhile the investment of £23.5 million will help build a positive and long lasting legacy from 2014 with benefits to sport, health improvement, tourism, business development, regeneration and education for generations to come."

 

Sturgeon said: "Our legacy plan aims to inspire everyone in Scotland to get involved and take advantage of this unique opportunity to become a healthier nation.

 

"At the heart of the plan is participation in physical activity.

"We can embrace our nation's passion for sport by using the inspirational opportunity of the Commonwealth Games to build on this enthusiasm by encouraging people to make lasting lifestyle changes.

 

"We will build on our existing programmes to launch our Active Nation campaign and develop Community Sports Hubs to create an innovative range of opportunities to take part in physical activity.

"Working with our partners in sport, health and local government our priority is to get Scotland physically active with people from all backgrounds, living long and healthy lives.

 

Louise Martin, the chair of sportscoltand, said: "Over the next five years, sportscotland will focus on leading the development of the new Community Sports Hubs concept, to raise the profile of sport and physical activity in local communities, encouraging an increase in participation.

 

"We are also making significant progress working with Scottish governing bodies of sport to ensure that enhanced performance pathways are in place in Commonwealth Games sports, which will help to deliver success in Glasgow and beyond."

 

Dharmendra Kanani, the Director of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland, said: "The Big Lottery Fund believes that a community legacy of the 2014 Games must be planned for and invested in many years before the advent of the Games.

"We have demonstrated this commitment by establishing our 2014 Communities Fund.

 

"We want to increase the number of people taking part in sport or physical activity at a grass roots level but also want to promote the benefits of volunteering.

"We have already awarded more than 200 grants with activities ranging from sea kayaking in Orkney to dance classes in Glasgow.

"What it is important to realise is that all of these groups are making the link that a small amount of money can make a huge difference."

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