HOW SALMOND & CO HAVE HIJACKED GAMES:
ONE of Scotland’s greatest Olympians last night launched a ferocious attack on Alex Salmond, accusing him of ‘hijacking’ the Glasgow Commonwealth Games for the cause of independence.
In a devastating critique of the way Scottish Ministers have used the Games, swimming legend David Wilkie accused them of elbowing their way into every associated event in an attempt to build a case for the break-up of Britain.
Wilkie, who competed at the highest levels of international sport for Scotland and Britain, also revealed his entrenched opposition to his country leaving the UK.
Even though he does not have a vote in the forthcoming referendum, he has become the latest high-profile Scot to speak out against separation.
Damagingly, he claims SNP politicians could be trying to prevent him from presenting medals at the Glasgow Games this summer.
In an interview with the Scottish Mail on Sunday, the 1976 Olympic gold medallist declared: ‘The Scottish Government is using the Commonwealth Games as a political issue. The politicians are using it more as a political football than a real sporting event, which is a shame. They’re trying to hijack the Games.
‘When you go to an event, politicians are always there. I went to the opening of the Commonwealth Games pool last year and politicians were there, just as they were at
‘They’re using it as a political football’
another event. At previous Commonwealth Games, there hasn’t been such a large political presence. Quite clearly it’s an opportunity for them.
‘They think that if Scotland do well at the Games, that will highlight the benefits of being independent, because it shows we can do it alone.
‘The politicians want the Scots to win as many gold medals as possible so Scotland feels free and will vote for independence.’
Wilkie – the only person to hold British, American, Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic titles all at the same time – said he had been approached to hand out medals for the 200 metres men’s breaststroke at the Glasgow Games.
This was Wilkie’s best event and it is also one of the pool events where a Scot, Michael Jamieson, stands a good chance of winning gold.
But Wilkie said he now feared he was being pushed out and the job would be given to a politician – particularly because he was prepared to speak out against politicians and Scottish independence.
He said: ‘I was asked to present the gold medal, but I don’t know if that will happen.
‘You have to be careful sometimes with what you say because, if you suddenly start knocking the Scottish Government for using the Commonwealth Games as a political statement to get people to vote for Scottish independence, suddenly you become persona non grata. It would be great to present the medal, and I think I should, because I was Scottish, European, Commonwealth, Olympic, and World champion. If they don’t have me, I will be disappointed.
‘But I’ve got a feeling that a politician or somebody of lesser ilk might be asked to do it. I’m the guy who should be doing that.’
A spokeswoman for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games last night insisted the organisers had no role in picking the people who presented the medals: ‘The Commonwealth Games Federation manages the selection and invitation of all medal presenters.’
Last night, nobody from the Commonwealth Games Federation was available for comment. Wilkie has previously criticised Mr Salmond, accusing the First Minister of performing a ‘nasty, cheap, political stunt’ when he unfurled a Saltire behind David Cameron after Andy Murray’s victory at last year’s Wimbledon.
The swimmer said he expected similar stunts at the Commonwealth Games this summer, and warned they could get out of hand.
He said: ‘To go over the top to drum up votes because a particular Scottish person has won, and to say to people watching “Because he’s competing for Scotland, he believes in independence” – I think that’s wrong. Putting your political aspirations on an individual who might not know what their political aspirations or leanings are is wrong.’
Wilkie is firmly opposed to separation, saying: ‘I’m against it. I just do not get it. I just can’t understand why we’re even discussing it.
‘I enjoyed swimming for Scotland, but I also enjoyed swimming for Great Britain. I enjoy being Scottish but I also enjoy being British, and I think a lot of Scots feel that way, too.’
He added: ‘David Cameron has shot himself in the foot even allowing it to happen, because he’s underestimated Alex Salmond, who’s a very clever politician. You’ve got 16-year-olds being able to vote, which I think is quite insidious in the sense that at 16 you really don’t know what political level you want to get to. It’s damaging to both countries.
‘The vote will be very close, but I feel Scots won’t vote for it because of the financial implications and the doubts about Scotland going it alone.’
A spokesman for SNP Sports Secretary Shona Robison said last night: ‘We agree with David Wilkie that the Games should be an entirely nonpolitical event, which is why we have said and done nothing to suggest otherwise.
‘Glasgow 2014 promises to be a fantastic sporting and cultural occasion, showcasing Scotland to the world – and we hope that everyone agrees with us that politics has no part in that.’