Dame Denise Lewis: "Glasgow is a city with sport at its heart"

The city’s stature as a host on the world sporting stage was celebrated by a trio of influential Olympians - all Commonwealth medal-winners - at a special event held by legal firm Lindsays.

Lewis was joined by Scotland’s most decorated track and field athlete, Eilidh Doyle, and UK Athletics Chief Executive Jack Buckner, the former distance runner, in sharing their sporting experiences and insight with an audience of local athletics club volunteers and business representatives in Glasgow.

They looked forward to a super summer of athletics across the United Kingdom, with Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games ahead of the European Athletics Championships being held in Birmingham.

Speaking before the event, Lewis said: “Glasgow is a city which has sport at its heart, so it’s brilliant to have the Commonwealth Games returning here. The fact that Glasgow rallied to give athletes this opportunity and continue a great legacy is fantastic.

“This is a massive summer of sport which really puts the spotlight on the UK as good hosts.”

In conversation with Lindsays’ Chief Operating Officer Ian Beattie, who is also the Chair of UK Athletics, panelists spoke of their early sporting inspirations and the importance of the Commonwealth Games as a springboard for them as international athletes.

Lewis, who lifted gold in the heptathlon in the Sydney 2000 Olympics and is the one of the most recognisable figures in British sport, has experienced Glasgow as both a competitor and broadcaster - and is sure all who arrive in the city next month (July) will have a great experience.

“Glasgow has passion. You can’t say that passion is light in this city,” she added.

“People here get behind athletes from all over the globe as they will do at these Commonwealth Games.

“This is a dynamic city, there’s a lot going on, things are moving forward, it’s cosmopolitan. I like it here.

“It’s always friendly, vibrant and shows that sport is fun, bringing people together.”

Athletics clubs represented in the audience at the AC Marriott hotel in George Street on Wednesday evening (June 10) included Cambuslang Harriers, Shettleston Harriers, Garscube Harriers and Motherwell Athletics Club.

And, following the stand-out success of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Lewis, the current President of UK Athletics, is sure the event’s return will give plenty for Scottish athletics fans to cheer - as well as being a sporting inspiration.

She said: “The power of sport galvanises people. Events like this get people involved and start thinking not only about their own health and wellbeing journeys but, for coaches and officials, how they can give back and inspire young people to choose a life in sport at whatever level.

“Major championships are about the inspiration - knowing where you were, what the memorable moment for you was and what spark it lit in you.”

Beattie said he was delighted that the firm was able to bring a panel with elite experience to Glasgow to share their insight and thanked them all for taking part.

He added: “Glasgow has built a fantastic reputation worldwide over the years as a top city of sport. It’s a place sport wants to come to.

“The reason for that is that sporting bodies know the events in Glasgow are well organised. They know the crowds are passionate and that it’s a sporting city. They know people from all over the world enjoy coming to Glasgow and the welcome they receive.”

Lindsays, whose offices include those in Glasgow city centre, is a significant supporter of grassroots sport in Scotland.

The firm this year extended its sponsorship of scottishathletics’ cross country season to its recently concluded road race series, which included a record 1,450 combined field competing in the 5k and 10k events in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The dual sponsorship deal will continue until 2029.

The Commonwealth Games take place from July 23 to August 2. The European Athletics Championships are between August 10 and 16.