The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-11157, in the name of Roderick Campbell, on Scotland’s outstanding year of sport. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes what it considers to have been an outstanding year for Scottish sport, including, but not limited to, its athletes’ success at the Winter Olympics, the spectacle and achievements of the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup success at Gleneagles, the staging of the Dunhill Links Championship at two of North East Fife’s most iconic golf courses and Carnoustie and the choice of Hampden Park as a venue for group games and a knockout round at Euro 2020; believes that 2014 has helped to build on what it believes to be Scotland’s reputation in a number of sports; considers that the momentum gained from the successes both in, and outside, sporting arenas must be built on for future sporting generations and considers development of grassroots and introductory level sports to be of particular importance to encourage more people to take up a new sport; praises all those involved, in any capacity, in making the sporting events that Scotland hosted in 2014 a success and notes the particular contribution of the large numbers of volunteers, and hopes that Scotland can be the venue for large-scale sporting events in the future and that this can help to encourage people to continue to live a healthy, active lifestyle.
12:33
It will not have escaped the attention of anybody in the chamber that an historic vote took place on 18 September. That vote—the first of its kind that has taken place—had the ability to lay a marker down in history. It was an opportunity to reject a centuries-old system that some believed was outdated and unrepresentative. The vote had a very high turnout, of approximately 85 per cent.
I can see one Opposition member thinking, “What’s this about?” I speak, of course, of the ballot that took place of the members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews over whether to allow female membership. I am certain that we all welcome the decision by the R&A to allow female members at last, with some 85 per cent of members in favour. I hope that the days of the so-called old boys clubs will soon be nothing more than a distant memory.
However, that was only one of the momentous occasions in Scottish sport this year. I am aware that I have only seven minutes in which to speak, and I do not want to fill all that time reflecting on the glorious sporting achievements of our sportsmen and women in the past 12 months, although I very easily could. I am certain that everybody who speaks in the debate could devote their time to listing all the sterling achievements of Scotland’s athletes and still there would be one dedicated, hard-working professional athlete missed out or one achievement overlooked. However, I think that we can all agree that all our athletes across all sports deserve our thanks and praise for their performances in 2014, including even our national football team, which has undergone something of a renaissance under Gordon Strachan.
I think that we can all agree that 2014 was an outstanding year of Scottish sport. Indeed, it is almost a cliché to say that we are running out of clichés to describe how exciting were the two biggest sporting events to occur in Scotland in recent years: the Commonwealth games and the Ryder cup. The Ryder cup saw some of the world’s most famous golfers descend on Gleneagles for what was by all accounts an exceptionally well-organised and well-run event. There was even a Scottish golfer—Stephen Gallacher—in the European team, who did the country proud over the Ryder cup weekend in contributing to what was recognised as an excellent team effort, which was led by the captain, Irishman Paul McGinley.
The Commonwealth games produced a brand-new list of heroes who will adorn posters on bedroom walls throughout the country for aspiring children who hope to emulate their achievements. If the photo book of the games that I think was delivered to all MSPs’ offices earlier in the week is anything to go by, there are certainly some inspirational images for our young people to look up to. Team Scotland had its most successful games ever, and I hope that sport in Scotland will soon reap the rewards—some places in the country have already done so.
Areas across Scotland have benefited from the Commonwealth games either directly by being able to host an event or indirectly by receiving funding to improve sporting facilities in their communities. For example, in North East Fife, Cupar skate park will soon be up and running, courtesy of a cash injection from the 2014 legacy fund, and several schools and clubs have received funding to improve sporting experiences for children and young people. Another £500,000 of 2014 legacy funding was recently announced, which I am sure will be put to excellent use in the communities that are fortunate enough to receive a share of it.
My genuine hope is that the sporting achievements that we have witnessed from our athletes can be a positive example to our young people. We could all stand here today and sing the praises of those who have achieved so much this year. They rightly deserve our praise for their successes and for entertaining us so well. Their dedication to their sport is unquestionable and their resolve to be the best in their chosen field is undeniable.
However, it is no good simply admiring our current sporting idols; we must look to improve on the current crop of star athletes, and the only way to do so is to look at grass-roots sport. Local sports clubs, whose members devote their time, money, blood, sweat and tears to providing sporting opportunities for local youngsters, truly deserve our admiration. Our sporting stars of tomorrow are born and nurtured in groups such as Fife Floorball Club, which this week helped to raise money with the Kirkcaldy and District lions club for Rachel House children’s hospice and which attracts more than 30 children to its weekly training sessions, and in clubs such as the Howe of Fife Rugby Football Club in my constituency, which offers rugby classes to hundreds of local children every week and which this year saw two of its alumni run out at Murrayfield for the Scottish national team.
Those of us who played rugby in the past will perhaps look enviously at the facilities and opportunities that are now available. Nothing can ever prevent the Scottish climate from taking a turn for the worse, but improved facilities, better pitches and the availability of more equipment for local clubs are all vital components for providing a more enjoyable experience for our young people. I hope that that will also encourage them to carry on with sport as they grow older. It is fair to say, however, that more can be done to provide even more sporting opportunities for our young people.
I will close by considering the work that the Scottish Government has carried out to ensure that Scotland’s outstanding year of sport in 2014 can be replicated in future years. I have spoken about the 2014 legacy funding, which has benefited many clubs and societies in North East Fife. For example, Cupar, which is in my constituency, will soon be home to a community sport hub. Further, according to the Scottish Government’s website, the active schools network has been credited with providing millions of opportunities for young people to be involved in sport. I am aware that the active schools arrangement is in place in all 32 local authorities until next year, and I look forward to hearing what the future holds for the network.
This year, 2014, has been an excellent year for sport in Scotland and for Scottish athletes. I look forward to being able to say the same thing of 2015, which of course will bring the British open again to my constituency, with no doubt some new sporting heroes.
12:39
I commend Roderick Campbell for bringing this members’ business debate to the chamber. In a week that began with the BBC sports personality of the year awards in Glasgow and Prince Harry’s eloquent speech at that event, in which he reminded us all of the power that sport has to change lives for ever, it is appropriate that we celebrate the role that Scotland has played in 2014. As Roderick Campbell rightly said, it has been a year like no other.
As I have spent 40 years of my life actively involved in playing different sports—at a wide range of levels, I have to say, from beginner to international in one sport—and coaching many youngsters from very different backgrounds, I believe that sport in Scotland in 2014 has given us a great deal to think about for the years ahead. Those themes feature strongly in the current programme of the cross-party group on sport, which I co-chair with Alison Johnstone.
It goes without saying that it is a particular pleasure for Mid Scotland and Fife MSPs to celebrate the hugely successful Ryder cup at Gleneagles, and Roderick Campbell was right to point to the British open coming back to Mid Scotland and Fife next year, but we should not forget about curling. Not only were 10 of the 12 Great Britain curling medallists at this year’s winter Olympics from Scotland, but seven of them live in or near Stirling.
Hosting major sporting events and producing elite talent are not just a matter of pride or benefit to our local economies—although the record numbers of spectators are testament to that; they also reflect something that is ingrained in each of us and in society: our love of competition. Competitive sport develops a work ethic and develops and reinforces social bonds, friendships and a sense of community. Quantitative measurements do not help in putting a value on that but, if we look at the faces of the schoolchildren who took part in all the associated sporting events this summer, we do not need them. Sport speaks for itself.
For many people, it is the spectacle as well as the sport that is important. That is clearly evident from the 600,000 visitors to the Commonwealth games, who witnessed elite-level competition in world-class settings, including in sports with which they were previously unacquainted. For me, some of the greatest joys of the summer were in witnessing the successes in so-called minority sports such as squash, netball and bowls, which attracted huge crowds. An important part of that was the improvement in broadcasting that accompanied those sports. Media interest in some of them has increased, which is a healthy sign.
I am appalled when anyone says that competitive sport should be banned. I can think of nothing that would be more contrary to the spirit of young people and real life or that would do more harm to young people’s self-discipline. Roderick Campbell is right to say that we must attach great importance to that part of the legacy. In my estimation, competitive sport must return to all schools and be enshrined in the legacy for the years ahead.
Something that can help with that is the growing value that we attach to lots of different sports rather than those that, over time, have dominated the school timetable. In years past, football, rugby, hockey and athletics have perhaps been the dominating sports, but times are changing, which is greatly to the benefit of more youngsters participating.
Schools hold the key in much of this, but we also have to accept that we need to do more to encourage a culture change in how we react to sport. Sportscotland is strong on that at present, and it comes up time and again at the cross-party group on sport. Our previous convener was Margo MacDonald, and she made that point regularly. It is also true of music and languages, but sport is perhaps more engaging, as it attracts people of all backgrounds and tastes and inspires the passion, creativity and innovation that are missing for too many youngsters.
For that reason, I warmly welcome the wider coverage of sports, male and female. Roderick Campbell was right to point to the correct decision that the Royal and Ancient has made to invite women to be members.
There is lots to celebrate. I hope that the legacy of this phenomenal year is not measured just in quantitative improvements in participation rates and changes in people’s perception of health but that there is a much better attitude and culture around sport, for which I have a considerable passion.
12:44
I, too, thank Rod Campbell for securing this debate, and I want to echo the points that he has already made. His motion, which covers national and local aspects, offers us the opportunity not only to review the past year of success but to look forward to even better times both nationally and at community level.
This has been a great year for sport not just in Glasgow—although I think that history will record that what happened this year was transformational for the city and has given it the chance to look forward to future successes, not just to look back at past successes—but, as Rod Campbell has pointed out, in other places such as Gleneagles and communities the length and breadth of the country.
Scotland is a better place for what has been achieved not just by those meeting their paid and salaried commitments but by those volunteers who helped with the Commonwealth games, for example, or who are, as Rod Campbell said, the unsung heroes. They support sport at a grass-roots level every day, and they have done so even when the times have perhaps not been as favourable as they are now.
What has happened this year has also been transformational with the recognition that sport is not simply an individual action. People can join clubs or take out gym memberships, and Government has clearly recognised that we have to encourage participation in sport for the public good. Even if some sports are individual pursuits, it is all about the collective good, and in that respect I echo Rod Campbell’s comments.
The fact is that this year has been good not only for the elite but for the grass roots. I know that Rod Campbell has that grass-roots commitment at his heart; he mentioned Howe of Fife, and I know about the lobbying that he has done on behalf of that club. I, too, pay tribute to the club’s success and the international players who have gone on to success wearing the Scottish jersey, but I also know of Mr Campbell’s efforts to ensure that the club has the facilities in order to secure future successes to match those of the players who are currently pulling on the dark blue jersey.
I know of such successes in my own community. For example, Lochend Amateur Boxing Club, which is in a challenged area, has had its difficulties in the past, but it has been remarkable in the way that it has dealt with and turned round some challenging individuals. This has been a remarkable year for the club. Josh Taylor’s success in winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth games has been felt not just by every member of the club but by the entire community, as has the success of Lewis Benson, who was successful in getting to the games but was unlucky in the draw and unfortunate in not getting further. The same effects at grass-roots level can be seen in Edinburgh Eastern as in North East Fife.
We have the possibility to build on the legacy for the future, to compete internationally and to make bids for other events. Because of the size of our stadia, we are not going to get a champions league final, but there are other international events that we can bid for, and our track record of success puts us in a position where we can look forward to successfully hosting other international events.
As Rod Campbell has said, this debate is also about what is happening at the grass roots. Many years ago, the late David Taylor made the point to me that, although Scotland had some of the best professional football facilities of any small nation anywhere in the world, we had some of the worst community facilities in Europe. That is why we must ensure that the legacy is not just about how we do in international—or even national or regional—competitions, but what we do at grass-roots level. The days of blaes pitches for young footballers must be consigned to the past as 3G pitches come in.
As Liz Smith has made clear, it is not only football and rugby that have had a boost, but boxing and numerous others sports. We have a chance not only to make Scotland a better place and put it on the global sporting map but to build a grass-roots sporting opportunity with the recognition that sport is for all, irrespective of people’s ability and the size of their wallets. Equally, however, we have to give people such as those who play at Howe of Fife the opportunity to compete on an international stage. That can be done; indeed, it is being done. We can look back at success but we can also look forward to an equally successful future.
12:49
I suppose that, at the end of any year, there is a tendency to look back at what has gone on in the preceding 12 months. There is absolutely no doubt that what has been a remarkable and exciting year in general for Scotland has been an incredible year for Scottish sport. The eyes of the world were on Scotland in 2014; we conducted ourselves very well.
It is particularly appropriate that the last members’ business debate of the year gives members the opportunity to offer their perspective on this year’s sporting achievements. I therefore thank Rod Campbell for securing the debate to let us do just that; I thank the members who have taken part, too.
I turn to this year’s highlights. As Liz Smith reminded us, at the beginning of the year, Scottish curlers—and Stirling curlers in particular—had phenomenal success on the world stage, where they won medals at the winter Olympic and Paralympic games at Sochi. Those talented and committed athletes helped to promote the game in Scotland and, as outstanding athletes and ambassadors, inspired many people to try curling and become more active in their lives. The success in Sochi kick-started an outstanding year for sport.
Moving on to the summer, the sun shone—most of the time—the venues were ready and Scotland was a proud host of the 20th Commonwealth games. The Scottish Government backed its commitment with funding of £382 million, 66 per cent of the total games budget.
We saw team Scotland achieve its highest ever medal haul, winning a total of 53 medals across 10 sports. Rod Campbell rightly spoke of a list of heroes. There are too many to mention them all, but I will mention a few.
On Tuesday, I was privileged to be at the JudoScotland reception. The judokas who took part in the Commonwealth games were all in attendance. It is worth reminding ourselves that we won 13 medals in 14 competitors. That was the best medal haul for a single sport at a Commonwealth games, and JudoScotland’s pride at that achievement was clear to see. I was pleased see it bestow honorary life membership for all those athletes who had been part of team Scotland at the games. JudoScotland described that as the highest honour that it could bestow on its members.
There was the inspirational performance of Lynsey Sharp, who rose from her sick bed to claim silver in the 800m at Hampden. That was a tremendous example of the triumph of human willpower, commitment and dedication. In addition, there was the outstanding achievement of our lawn bowls team against the outstanding backdrop of Kelvingrove.
We saw the emergence of Ross Murdoch, yet another great Scottish swimmer. We saw 13-year-old Erraid Davies, Scotland’s youngest ever Commonwealth games athlete and medal winner. That is an extraordinary achievement for someone so young.
No one will forget the mailman, Charlie Flynn. If ever there is someone who could rank as personality of the year—in any field, let alone that of sports—it must be the charismatic Mr Flynn.
We should also remember that team Scotland won four medals in five parasports. We should be particularly proud of having delivered the highest number of parasports medal events in Commonwealth games history. Furthermore, unlike the Olympics, where the Paralympics was a separate event, the parasports were integrated fully into the Commonwealth games.
The city of Glasgow featured as the star of the show. We Glaswegians are very proud. We are sometimes defensive of our city, but there was no need for that in the case of the Commonwealth games—there was every reason to be proud. The people of Glasgow and Scotland rose to the occasion. In prime place among them were our marvellous Clyde-siders and the cast members from the opening ceremony. The games heralded in a new generation of passionate and enthusiastic volunteers who were central to making the games the best games ever. I thank all those who volunteered during the games.
I recently visited Volunteer Scotland, which is based in Stirling, where I met games volunteers. While there, I announced that the Scottish Government is supporting Volunteer Scotland with more than £114,000 to harness the enthusiasm from the games and to promote the rich and diverse benefits that volunteering can bring.
Rod Campbell spoke of the important role of volunteers. I recognise their role and am very supportive of it. We want to see a legacy not only of volunteering but of increased participation. That is about more than just investment—Kenny MacAskill touched on the inspiration that individual athletes can bring to those who look up to them, which is part of the legacy.
However, it is also about investment, as Rod Campbell said. More than 100 projects have been supported by the £10 million legacy 2014 active places fund, and yesterday in Castlemilk I attended an event to mark the 21 projects that are being funded by our £1 million legacy 2014 sustainable sport for communities fund. Games equipment is now being used across the country, at Grangemouth stadium athletes will be able to run on the Hampden running track, and the games facilities are now open to the public. I was recently at the Emirates arena, and one of the best things that I saw there was members of the public using the facilities.
I should say something about the Ryder cup.
Liz Smith rose—
I will give way to Liz Smith. [Interruption.]
Can we have Liz Smith’s microphone on, please?
The minister makes a valid point. Kenny MacAskill made an important point, too. The Scottish Government has been trialling an important initiative that involves families in golf in order to help youngsters to come through. Is the Scottish Government going to pursue that in all sports in order to reach a wider age range among the public?
If the member had put in her card, that would have helped with the sound.
I managed to hear Liz Smith’s point anyway. She is talking about the club golf programme, which is an excellent programme that I was just about to touch on. Where we can deliver that type of initiative in other sports, we will seek to do so. I have to say that the budget is limited and that, if we had more money, we could do more. However, of course, we welcome and will try to support that type of initiative.
The Ryder cup was another example of Scotland’s ability to deliver, and it reinforced Scotland’s status as the home of golf. Around 45,000 golf fans from around the globe packed the course for each of the three days of play. Liz Smith mentioned the BBC sports personality of the year award and the moving tribute to the injured service personnel who took part in the Invictus games. At the same award ceremony, Chris Hoy received his well-deserved lifetime achievement, and when team Europe won the team of the year award the captain, Paul McGinley, was gracious in first thanking the people of Scotland. As with the Commonwealth games, our people were a vital part of the success of the Ryder cup.
As well as securing the legacy from the Commonwealth games, we want to secure a legacy from the Ryder cup. We want to be not only the home of golf but the future of golf. To underline that commitment, earlier this year the Scottish Government announced additional funding of up to £1 million over a four-year period to help to introduce yet more youngsters and families to the game of golf. Through the club golf programme, we have encouraged more than 350,000 youngsters to pick up a club and get involved in the sport.
I am running out of time. I wanted to talk about the tremendous achievements of our national teams. Our cricket team has qualified for next year’s world cup, and we have seen impressive performances from our rugby team. Our women’s football team is now ranked 21st in the world and came very close to qualifying for the world cup, and the men’s team is greatly improved and is on course to qualify for Euro 2016.
In closing, I should say that, although 2014 has been an outstanding year, we look forward to next year when Scotland will host the world gymnastics championships, the International Paralympic Committee swimming world championships and the world orienteering championships as well as the European judo championships and the European eventing championship. In addition, the open championship will return to Scotland in 2015 and 2016, and St Andrews will welcome the women’s British open next year.
Our ambition for the years ahead is to build on our reputation as the perfect stage for major events, which we have established through this year’s achievements. This year has given us the experience and knowledge to deliver, and 2014 will be hard to live up to. Nevertheless, I am confident that we have many outstanding years of sport ahead of us.
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