MILLIONS more visits are being made to Glasgow sports facilities than a decade ago.

Earlier this week, Audit Scotland revealed city residents are the least active in Scotland with only one in three exercising weekly.

But today culture and sport bosses in the city hit back saying more people than ever are getting off the couch and into the gym, swimming pool, football pitch and track.

A decade ago, just 2million visits were made to city sports centres in the course of a year. By last year, that number soared to 4.2m.

City council bosses say it's thanks to a number of projects including free swimming for kids.

But they admit more has to be done if the health of Glasgow people is to improve.

Archie Graham, executive member for culture and sport and delivery of the Commonwealth Games, said: "We're doing everything possible to encourage people to become fit and active.

"The city has invested tens of millions of pounds in new and refurbished sports facilities over the last decade and we've seen the number of annual attendances more than double." Millions is spent on improving facilities OVER the past decade, the city council has spent many millions of pounds building new sports facilities across Glasgow.

In March 2003, the Donald Dewar leisure centre in Garscadden Road in Drumchapel opened at a cost of £4.2million.

It has a full-size, floodlit, synthetic pitch, two full-size grass pitches, three seven-a-side pitches and one junior grass training pitch.

In February 2005 Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson opened the £3.7m Nethercraigs football complex on Corkerhill Road. It has five full-size grass pitches, one full-size, floodlit, synthetic pitch and three floodlit synthetic five-a-side courts.

The Palace of Art, a centre for sporting excellence, opened in Bellahouston Park in April 2004 costing £3.7m.

Other new council sports centres include Haghill, which opened in 2004 and cost £1.6m and Holyrood, which opened in 2000 and cost £4.5m. Other community complexes include Ibrox and Stepford, which opened in 1994 at a cost of £2m.

Lochend pitches opened in 2003 at a cost of £2.1m But many people still lament the closure of community facilities like Govanhill Pool in 2001, part of a closure process which over the years saw baths shut at Maryhill, Balshagray, Pollokshaws and Whiteinch - closed in the mid 90s when Scotstoun Leisure Centre opened - and Shettleston, which was replaced with Tollcross Leisure Centre.

In 2003, Glasgow became the first council in Britain to introduce free swimming for the over 60s.

The scheme followed the huge success of free swimming for under-18s who have a Kidz or Young Scot card.

Last year young people went swimming for free 140,470 times while the over 60s were in the water more than 96,000 times.

He said Glasgow suffered from a number of issues such as long-term illness, unemployment and deprivation which prevented a people participating in sport or physical activity.

"We're trying to break down those barriers by saying you don't have to run a marathon to get active - even going for a walk in one of the city's parks can kick start a routine which will get people out and about and feeling better about themselves."

Glasgow spends around £100 per person each year on sports facilities and parks compared to only £33.10 in Edinburgh.

Culture and Sport has 19 sports facilities and more than 50 sports pitches with education bosses running many more at schools.

A total of £5million is spent providing sporting activities run by 90 staff and 250 sport coaches. Ten years ago, the city launched its Glasgow Kidz card and Young Scot cards aimed at encouraging children to take more exercise and 87,000 have now signed up.

Research this year found: regular attendance by young people in gym, leisure activities and events like swimming pool parties are highest among young people in the East End. some youngsters attend sport facilities as often as 30 times a month. the 12 to 18-year-old group have the highest attendance rates.

In the next few months, Culture and Sport hopes to boost the number of young people taking part in swimming, gymnastics and athletics by increasing the number of introductory coaching programmes.

It will put together development plans for sports featured in the Commonwealth Games, set up new sports clubs and expand the NHS funded GP referral exercise programme.

Mr Graham said: "While we are fully committed to providing support for elite athletes in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games, we remain absolutely determined that every citizen will have the facilities and support to get fit and active.

"That will be a fantastic legacy for a city that, for too long, has been seen as the sick man of Europe. This is a challenge which the city is already facing.

"We've witnessed significant improvements already and we will work with our partners in the city - and with the Scottish Government - to ensure Glaswegians from eight to 80 enjoy all the benefits of an active lifestyle."

Mr Graham, 51, still takes part in the Great Scottish Run and has completed the New York marathon in less than four hours.

And he said: "Parents also need to lead by example.

"My daughter is extremely keen on netball and swimming.

"She plays in the Holyrood netball team and is a member of the Glasgow swim team, whom she trains with six days a week.

"My son is an active member of his local running club and he also is a member of the Glasgow swim team.

"It's great to see them out and taking part in activities that not only boost their health, but their confidence too - much better than seeing them stuck on the sofa playing computer games.

"Improving participation in sport and physical activity across Glasgow must be a key legacy from hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games."