A Scottish newspaper reports that Scottish sports chiefs and politicians are demanding the British Government hand over an extra 150 million pounds of lottery money to boost the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and that the money represents “fair” compensation to Scotland for the millions of pounds of lottery money used by the London 2012 Games two years earlier.
The Scottish government said that 150 million pounds of lottery funding destined for Scottish causes is being diverted to help meet the cost of the London Games; which is being denied by UK Labour ministers who point out that Scotland will benefit from the Olympics with some events being staged in Glasgow.
Scotland on Sunday reports that the Glasgow 2014 organizing committee is making behind-the-scenes efforts to secure the lottery funding for the Glasgow Games.
Campaigners point out that the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games received 112 million pounds in funding from the National Lottery to spur the regeneration of east Manchester and for a number of sporting facilities, while no lottery funding is being spent on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games where the costs are being met entirely by the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.
Meanwhile UK ministers point out that the Glasgow Commonwealth Games bid never included a bid for lottery money.
First Minister Alex Salmond told Scotland on Sunday, “the Scottish Government are funding 80 per cent of the Games, and Glasgow City Couoncil 20 per cent, with no contribution from Westminster – so it is entire reasonable that lottery funding is restored to Scotland to help boost the legacy investment”.
