£500k for sports centres

Athletes are being boosted by a £500,000 pot to upgrade sports centres.

The Scottish Government is stumping up cash to upgrade facilities across the country.

Renfrewshire is in line for a share of the fund, aimed at delivering a sporting legacy ahead of the return of the European Championships.

Aileen Campbell, minister for sport, insists the time is right to help bring on the next generation of competitors.

She said: “This investment in Community Sport Hubs aims to deliver national longterm benefit across Scotland by encouraging communities to take part in a new sport or physical activity.”

Investment of up to £5,000 will be doled out to hubs across the country.

Priority will be given to projects working with the most deprived communities.

Scotland has 181 sports hubs — created in the wake of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Bosses want to reach 200 by the end of the decade.

Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government has continued its legacy commitment to Scottish sport as part of the staging of the European Championships and has recognised the significant contribution of Community Sport Hubs.”