Clubs benefit from Glasgow 2014 legacy

Friday 14th November 2014

Glasgow 2014 has been back in the news with the Games coming in £25 million ‘under budget’ and proving a multi-million pound tourist attraction.

But there is also a physical legacy from Scotland hosting the Commonwealth Games as clubs around the country start to benefit from a sportscotland scheme – supported and promoted by scottishathletics – to re-distribute equipment used at Hampden in the summer.

And clubs in the Highlands and Islands region are already ‘out of the blocks’ on this issue with Games equipment now helping athletes at Shetland AAC, Orkney AC, Inverness Harriers, Caithness AAC and Nairn Area AAC.

Local partnerships helped make it all happen with the Shetland Recreational Trust, the Pickaquoy Centre in Orkney and Inverness Leisure combining with clubs to make joint applications in those areas.

In the main, the equipment awarded was throwing implements but there is also some other field equipment such as chalk powder stands, wind socks, plasticine horizontal jumps board and a Long Jump Cover. All are now in use around the Highlands and Islands.

‘Orkney now has its own little piece of the Games,’ said Mark Harrison, general manager of the Pickaquoy Centre.

‘Together the Pickaquoy Centre and Orkney Athletics Club made a joint application to the 2014 Legacy Sports Equipment Fund.  As part of the legacy around the 2014 Commonwealth Games, some of the sports equipment used was made available after Glasgow 2014 through the fund to sports groups, clubs and Trusts.

‘The joint application was successful and together the Centre and club received the athletics equipment this week. Athletes will benefit from new javelins, discs, hammers as well as cones, a new long jump pit cover and runway markers.’

Orkney AC club coach Brian Davis said: ‘The athletes were really excited to receive the equipment from the Games as it had been used by actual Commonwealth athletes and it will certainly be used by everyone over the months and years ahead.’

*Clubs sharing ideas and best practice is an important part of the development plans at scottishathletics and we’ve recently up-dated our Club Development Toolkit. There are 30 examples of what’s happening at other clubs available to help you.

Tags: Caithness AAC, Glasgow 2014 legacy, Inverness Harriers, Nairn Area AAC, Orkney AC, Shetland AAc