Mccolgan lashes out at city’s sporting chances

LIZ McCOLGAN has accused Dundee City Council of being caught cold by the post-Olympics sports boom.

Youngsters wanting to be the next Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis have been flooding to the Dundee Hawkhill Harriers midweek training sessions at Caird Park in unprecedented numbers but the former world champion athlete and Olympic silver medallist fears they will start to drift away as a result of the sub-standard facilities and a lack of coaches.

McColgan, who trains her daughter Eilish among a group of other promising athletes, told The Courier: “There was so much talk prior to the Olympics about the legacy that would be left. Part of that legacy was to have better sporting facilities, and more people involved in sports.

“At my athletics club our normal kids count would be between 50 and 60. The most we have ever had was 70 at its peak.

“This Tuesday there were nearly 200 people at the stadium. There is such a buzz at the track but my fear is that it is not going to last long.

“First of all the facilities are not up to scratch. The dark nights are coming and the floodlights do not work properly.

“The council should really take a look at the state of the sporting clubs in and around Dundee. The legacy promised better facilities but for us in this area nothing has changed.”

She added: “It’s about time Dundee council dragged itself out of the doldrums and into the modern era of 2012 with the sporting facilities made available to the people of Dundee.

“I am not just talking about athletics. There are many other sporting clubs in Dundee and they are saying the same — lots of kids turning up and struggling to deal with a lack of qualified coaches and poor facilities.”

She went on: “I attended a forum last week at the festival of politics at the Scottish Parliament. We discussed very similar issues to what I have talked about and the outcome was the same.

“We will keep talking and asking the questions but no one will listen and nothing will be done.”

Dundee City Council leader of the administration Councillor Ken Guild said: “We are looking to provide a strong sporting future for Dundee and the city council is investing £30 million in city sports facilities at the moment.

“State- of- the- ar t pitches have recently been opened at Dundee International Sports Complex for football, hockey and rugby. Meanwhile, the velodrome at Caird Park is now welcoming cyclists after a major upgrade.

“Work on the replacement Olympia is progressing which will see a new era for swimming in the city. The Dick McTaggart Gymnastics Centre will encourage participants from grass roots level to performance squads.

“There are also ongoing upgrades to parks and we have been speaking to Tennis Scotland funding opportunities Dundee.

“Leisure and Culture, Dundee’s sports development section, and the city council’s active schools team provide a superb range of activities for children to enjoy.

“They are also helped to sharpen their skills with comprehensive development programmes in a range of pursuits.

“Dundee City Council is leading the push with local partners to put together a strong bid for the national sporting performance centre for Scotland.

“We are serious about sport in Dundee.” about external for the sport in

Dundee Secondary Schools Sports Day at Caird Park Stadium.