Let's Play The Game In The Games

WHEN Glasgow was first named as host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, after the initial euphoria - because it will be great to see some of the world's top athletes in action in our largest city - I became a wee bit concerned, about how there might be a return in the massive costs of staging such a large festival of sport.

Sure, if what happens in Glasgow two years hence inspires even one young Scot to take his or her in-built talent and promise, build on it and became a sporting champion and an inspiration to the kids coming along behind, then it will all have been worth it.

That will be the long-term bonus, in the short-term, we want to see full houses at Hampden and the other venues; we want to see fans encouraging the athletes, and in all honesty, there isn't a great market for some of the Commonwealth Games sports in Scotland.

Again I turn to the fact, in Scotland, football is the only game in town and the one manner in which football and athletics worked together was in the heyday of the old Rangers Sports at Ibrox. This event was overseen by manager Bill Struth, who himself had an athletics background and some of the biggest names in athletics were only too happy to travel to Glasgow and participate in the event.

But, what made the Rangers Sports work in terms of big attendances was the inclusion, among the sprints, middle distance and field events of a five-a-side football tournament, featuring teams from the then six Scottish League teams from the city.

The hope was always that it would come down to an Old Firm final - that would really get the crowd going even more than the appearance of one or more Olympic gold medalists.

Fast forward to 2014. Imagine what the attendance would be like if football was included in the Commonwealth Games, and the final came down to Scotland v England? They'd have to lock the gates and the atmosphere would be electric. It couldn't fail and if there was a Scotland team involved and going well, it would even be Usain Who?

Of course, it will not happen, mainly because football isn't a Commonwealth Games sport - and, certainly in the context of the Glasgow games, it would have been a winner if it had been.

Now, let's take a quantum leap into another emotive topic - the 2012 Olympic Games football and the presence of Team GB. As things stand, this is a one-off event, even if Team GB were to win the gold medal, they wouldn't be around to defend it in Rio.

However, IF football was a Commonwealth Games sport, then all four home nations would be obliged to field properly-organised and funded squads, for preference playing to Olympic Games selection criteria. These teams could be an excellent bridging team between the Under-23 and full sides and would definitely help turn  club players into internationalists.

Getting football into the Commonwealth Games, would help maintain the international independence of the four Home Nations, and at the same time keep Team GB in the Olympics - giving the lucky players from the four countries who made the Olympics cut additional experience. It's a win-win situation for all four.