Commonwealth Games Facilities & Charging
Written by author on January 10, 2014
The national agency for sport, sportscotland, has invested almost £55million into providing sports facilities which will help create a lasting legacy from the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
And in a boost for communities throughout the country, an annual review of public sector charges for the use of swimming pools, indoor and outdoor facilities has this week shown a positive outlook.
Based on a survey of Scotland’s 32 local authorities and their associated leisure trusts, the sportscotland report highlights that in the past year golf charges for juveniles have decreased by 6.7 per cent, while the annual membership costs for gym use and swimming has decreased by 10 per cent.
In addition, the trend over the past five years has shown that while inflation (retail price index) has risen at a rate of 2.9 per cent, sport charges have only increased by 2.3 per cent – a real terms cut.
With Glasgow 2014 now only seven months away, sportscotland is delighted with the impact the Games has already had on the sporting landscape.
Eight of the 13 venues which will be used for the Glasgow Games – including the fabulous Emirates Arena and the refurbished Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh – have received funding from sportscotland, totalling almost £31million.
These world-class facilities will not only host 11 days of competition during Scotland’s largest ever multi-sport event, but will also encourage communities to become involved in sport and physical activity both before and after the Games have finished.
However, significant funding has also been directly invested into facilities across the country which will help the Commonwealth sports being competed in at Glasgow to build on the enthusiasm generated by the first home Games for almost three decades.
Since 2007 – when Glasgow was awarded the Commonwealth Games – £24million has been spent to improve a range of swimming, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowls, rugby, shooting, squash, and table tennis facilities throughout Scotland that are not hosting Games events.
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said:
“Clearly, the Commonwealth Games has increased the spotlight on Scotland’s flagship facilities, but at sportscotland our focus is on improving the quality of facilities available to high performance athletes and community alike.
“Scotland’s sporting facilities are the best they have ever been, and the excitement of the Commonwealth Games is a unique opportunity for sportscotland to accelerate our drive to develop and support a world-class sporting system at all levels.
“It is essential that we connect the focus that will be on Scotland’s high performance athletes with school, club, and community development which will help to provide more and better opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity across the country.
“I am also encouraged by the latest findings about the charges for access to sport facilities, because it is vital that people the length and breadth of Scotland have the opportunity to take part in sport in the best environments possible.”
In addition to providing significant funding, members of the sportscotland facilities team have also provided expertise and advice which has helped to shape the venues. For example, specialist guidance was provided for the refurbishment at the Royal Commonwealth Pool – which will host the diving events during the Games – to ensure that the heights and widths of the diving platforms complied with international competition standards.
Expertise is also being provided to the organising committee to help ensure that all of the venues meet equality standards, with disability access, deaf and blind issues all being carefully considered.
