SCOTLAND'S politicians, sports and entertainment stars welcomed Active 2014 with open arms when it launched at the start of this year.

Over the following months many more big names gave their backing to the campaign.

Tennis coach Judy Murray showed children at St John's Primary in Blackwood, near Lanark, that plenty of fun could be had with a makeshift court in the playground.

"I love doing this kind of thing," said the mum of former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and his brother Jamie.

"Kids ask questions about what Jamie and Andy were like when they were young and you are able to say to them: 'They were kids in a primary school, just like you. So you don't know where you will end up. If you work hard and believe in yourself, nothing is impossible. Try hard, work hard and enjoy yourself'."

She added: "We are in an age where with this generation of children, research shows, are likely to live five years fewer than any other generation, because of physical inactivity.

"If physical inactivity was considered to be a disease then we would have an inoculation against it and would be doing something about it.

"We have to give kids opportunities to be able to play, but give them things they will enjoy doing."

Fitness expert Dr Andrew Murray urged Scots to get off the sofas and get moving in the year Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games.

The Scottish Government's Physical Activity Champion, who is a keen marathon runner, praised Active 2014.

"It's about everyone in Scotland getting the benefit of the spotlight that is on the Commonwealth Games," he said.

"I have been in Kenya, where children exercise on average five hours a day. In the UK it's less than an hour. The figures for adults are even worse.

"The guideline is for people to do 30 minutes of physical activity a day. If you do 30 minutes of exercise five times a week, you will live on average seven and a half years longer.

"Everyone knows the health benefits associated with quitting smoking, but doing 30 minutes of exercise a day is equally beneficial to long-term health."

A commitment from the Scottish Government to encourage people to make physical activity a part of their daily lives came from MSP Shona Robison.

The Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Sport, Equalities and Pensioners' Rights, who wears a pedometer and tries to fit in half an hour on her exercise bike every day, praised Active 2014.

Meanwhile, former leader of the Scottish Labour Party Johann Lamont offered exercise tips after losing four stones and dropping from a size 18 to between a 10 and a 12.

She had been a keen runner, taking part in a marathon as well as a number of 10Ks and half marathons but gave up after an ankle injury.

She got back in step by using a treadmill at her local Glasgow Life gym, and walking in Pollok Park.

She described Active 2014 as "a wonderful and important campaign."

"Glasgow has a proud history of actively encouraging people to get involved in sport and being active themselves," she said.

"If the message of your campaign is that it is for everybody, it's not just for some people, I think that is wonderful.

If the legacy of the Commonwealth Games is that people walk a bit further, eat a little bit more healthily and feel a bit more confident about themselves - that will be a great legacy."

Former rugby player Scott Forrest represented Scotland at under-19 and under-21 level, then captained the rugby sevens team at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

He now has a key role at the SportScotland Institute of Sport, working with up and coming athletes.

Starting training at a young age, whether you are an amateur or professional athlete, is his top tip.

"We're finding more and more now that sports are targeting a younger age group, because they are seeing the benefit of teaching them high-performance behaviours, effectively good habits," he said.

And record-breaking Paralympic athlete Meggan Dawson-Farrell hailed the success of Active 2014 for encouraging everyone to get involved in sport.

She holds the Scottish record over all distances from 400m to the marathon and is ranked 12th in the world, in her classification, in the 1500m.

She finished seventh at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the T54 1500m.

Not a bad list of achievements for anyone - but quite incredible when you stop to think that Meggan never did PE at school and was only introduced to sport when she was 15, at a camp run by the Spina Bifida Association.

"I've shown people I can do things they always said I couldn't. I'm enjoying myself now, I'm more confident," she said.

"I'd say to someone who was in my position, if they're ever given the opportunity to try something, to take it and give it a go."

With encouragement like that, what's stopping you.

angela.mcmanus@eveningtimes.co.uk