GLASGOW'S 2014 Commonwealth Games have been given a boost as the finishing touches are made to the revamped Scotstoun Stadium.

By Rebecca Gray

GLASGOW'S 2014 Commonwealth Games have been given a boost as the finishing touches are made to the revamped Scotstoun Stadium.

As the £18million refurbishment of the stadium draws to a close, Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy and UK Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe took a guided tour of the new facility, joined by some of Scotland's future top sprinters from Glasgow School of Sport.

One of Glasgow's biggest leisure centres, Scotstoun Stadium will play a huge part in the Games and culture bosses hope the new look will make the facility more accessible to the public and allow Glasgow to bid for more world-class athletic events.

Mr Murphy said: "Scotstoun has a proud name in Scottish athletics, but the improvements that have been made make this facility fit for the international athletes who will train and compete here in 2014.

"People across Scotland can see the huge benefit the Games will be for the whole country, and particularly for Glasgow.

"Standing inside the stadium on a freezing cold November morning just shows the potential for the arena. No matter what the weather, athletes from all different sports will be able to train in comfort and warmth.

"I was always looking forward to seeing the new facilities, but they really are better than anything I could imagine.

"Scotstoun is now the Rolls-Royce of training facilities."

As well as a full-length indoor warm-up track, there is a refurbished track and field, new conditioning suites and state-of-the-art media facilities.

The adjacent leisure facility will also be a key training centre for the Games for both elite and up-and-coming athletes. Toilets, showers and changing rooms have also been improved, with a new spa and steam room added.

A handful of pupils from Glasgow School of Sport were the first athletes to set foot on the new indoor and outdoor tracks. Competition was fierce among the youngsters to be the very first out of the starting blocks.

Lee Wilson, 17, was first to race on the new track.

Lee, who won gold in the 800 metres at the Scottish Schools Championships 2009, said: "It's an amazing feeling to be the first athlete to run on the new outdoor track.

"We were all fighting to be the first.

"The track is fantastic and I know the atmosphere out there will spur me on to run a personal best, that is definitely a dream of mine.

"The new track is also really handy for all the pupils at the School of Sport, so it's not just the professional athletes who will see the benefits."

His classmate Mahad Ahmed joked: "It was a close call between me and Lee to be first to run 100m on the new track.

"And although he may have been the first to race on the new track, he was also the first to lose on the new track. I definitely beat him, no matter what he says."

The refurbishment also means the capacity of the sports arena has been increased to more than 5,000, with flexibility to add more.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "The new facilities here are world-class - it gives the athletes the added edge they deserve. The indoor tracks are the best I have seen and warm indoor training helps to make the arena unique.

"It is vitally important that we get these amazing facilities in place in time for the 2014 Games, so that both athletes now, and in the future, will reap the benefits.

"I'm really impressed with everything I've seen here today."

However, the stadium refurbishment has not been without controversy.

More than 100 local residents opposed plans to rebuild the site at Scotstoun Leisure Centre, saying the upgrading of the stadium would result in traffic gridlock in the streets around the complex.

Glasgow has also signalled its intention to attract some of world's best athletes to train in the city's facilities ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

If successful, Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man, could be using the new Scotstoun facilities with his Jamaican team-mates as they bid to win a gold medal.

The refurbishment project attracted £4m in funding from sportscotland, with the remaining £14m funded by Glasgow City Council.

City council leader Steven Purcell said: "This outstanding facility is testament to our commitment to provide a lasting legacy, not just for elite athletes, but for all our communities as we build a more active and healthy Glasgow.

"Over the next few years, our investment will see other world-class venues come on stream as we count down the days to 2014."