Ming Campbell: ‘Commonwealth Legacy must be to inspire children’

Sprinter turned politician Sir Menzies Campbell says it’s a “tragedy” the Commonwealth Games athletic track will be scrapped at the end of the spectacle.

He decried a lack of top class facilities and believes the Games’ legacy should be about having more track and field stadia, not less.

With Scotland in the midst of an obesity crisis, he is calling on the Scottish Government to use the moment to tackle the problem.

Sir Menzies, who competed at the 1966 Games, said: “Stand outside Hampden as the crowd goes in to the athletics and look at how many people are overweight.

“If we are going to secure a younger generation that doesn’t suffer from that disadvantage, then exercise and sport has a huge part to play.

“The test for the Scottish Government will be a commitment not just to provide good facilities for international events but facilities at a local level and to make sure existing clubs have all they need.

“It needs enthusiasm and coaches that can inspire children.”

Once the Games come to a close Hampden Park will be returned to a football stadium.

Sir Menzies added: “They’ve turned Hampden into a brilliant athletics stadium. The tragedy is that once the games are over the track’s to be picked up.”

The two running surfaces will be moved to Grangemouth and Crown Point in Glasgow. Dismantling the facilities at Hampden will leave Scotland without a top class athletics stadium even though the new home for the track in Grangemouth hosts more athletics competitions than any other in Britain.

Sir Menzies added: “I was in the stadium at Hampden 10 days ago for the Diamond League meeting. When they went to their marks in the 4x100m relay I could feel the hairs on my neck standing up.

“I can put myself back into what it felt like. It would have been absolutely wonderful to compete in Glasgow, my home city.”