Sports volunteers thanked

THOUSANDS OF tickets for the Commonwealth Games will be used to say thank you to the individuals and groups who make sports happen across Scotland.

The Legacy Ticket scheme aims to recognise the achievements and contribution of the people who will help to create a lasting legacy for the games.

With 94% of public tickets already sold, some 5,000 will be used to reward people who might not otherwise get the chance to attend the event.

The beneficiaries will include secondary school youngsters involved in coaching in their schools and communities.

And the success of that project brought Sport Minister Shona Robison to Perth High School yesterday to meet young sports volunteers.

More than 40 pupils now coach at the school, in local primary schools and at sports clubs in the city.

And as many as 10,000 other youngsters and adults across the country give up their time on a weekly basis to enable Scots to take part in all kinds of activities.

Ms Robison was joined by partners in the Legacy project and by inspirational Team Scotland para-athlete Meggan DawsonFarrell as she met some of the young Perth coaches — and impressed them with her basketball skills.

The MSP said: “We are determined that there should be a lasting legacy from the games and this gift of 5,000 Legacy Tickets will recognise the vulnerable contribution made by many people across the country.

“We’re making sure we can say a big thank you, while offering the beneficiaries the chance to see the best in sporting action, experience the thrill of the opening or closing ceremony, and deliver an ‘I was there’moment.

“We have more than 10,000 people supporting sport in Scotland on a voluntary basis, giving up their time on a wet Wednesday night, week-in, week-out.

“Without them we would not have sport in many of our communities and the Legacy Tickets are our way of rewarding them.

“My hope is that the memories created by seeing the games will last a lifetime.”

Perth High’s young coaches were also delighted to meet and speak with Meggan, who will race against fellow wheelchair athletes in the 1,500 metres in Glasgow.

The Tullibody-born 21-year-old has overcome significant obstacles to fight for her place at the games — not least a serious brain operation in 2012.

Picture: Angus Findlay. Commonwealth Games and Sport Minister Shona Robison and Meggan Dawson-Farrell, centre, with pupils and sport leaders at Perth High School.