Fife has plenty to celebrate from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
As the curtain comes down on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, it is time to reflect on the lasting legacy this event can leave behind.
Scotland now has the opportunity to ensure its legacy lives on by inspiring more young people to take up sport.
For the past fortnight, we have seen athletes from across the Commonwealth compete on one of the biggest stages in sport.
For young people watching in Kirkcaldy those performances can be the spark that encourages them to take up a new activity or simply become more active.
The Scottish Government has recognised this opportunity through its ambitious 2026 Summer of Sport programme.
Backed by significant investment, including a £20 million fund delivered through sportscotland, the initiative is designed to provide free and low-cost sporting opportunities for children and young people across the country. By harnessing the excitement generated by events such as the Commonwealth Games, the programme aims to remove barriers to participation and help create a lifelong love of sport.
Fife has plenty to celebrate from the Commonwealth Games.
Kirkcaldy's Ben Sandilands produced a superb performance to win gold in the men's T20 1500m, delivering Scotland's first athletics gold medal of the Games. Training partner Steven Bryce also enjoyed a memorable competition, claiming bronze in the same event to complete a Scottish double podium finish. Both athletes train with Fife AC and have become outstanding role models for aspiring athletes throughout the Kingdom.
There was further Fife representation through Fife AC's Owen Miller, a Paralympic champion who competed in the same T20 1500m final and finished sixth, underlining the strength of para-athletics talent being developed locally.
Their achievements deserve recognition. That is why I was pleased to submit a Parliamentary motion acknowledging the remarkable successes of both Ben Sandilands and Steven Bryce. Their dedication has done Fife proud.
As Glasgow's Games come to an end, the real challenge begins now. If we can use this moment, alongside Scotland's Summer of Sport, to encourage more people into sport and physical activity, then the legacy of these Games will be measured in far more than medals alone.