Many will agree with your call for the Olympic medals so superbly won by our athletes to inspire a sporting and physical activity revolution (Leader, August 5).
But are the politicians listening? Four years ago, Chris Hoy, with three gold medals won in Beijing, called for more cycling paths, separated from traffic. It is obvious that Scotland will not become an active nation until, once again, most of our children can walk or cycle to school in safety.
So here we are, four years later, with the brilliant Sir Chris delivering even more medals, but with nothing changed as a result of his Beijing clarion call. The Scottish Government still spends less than 1% of its transport budget on non-motorised transport, when our European neighbours spend well over 10%. The First Minister aspires to deliver a physical activity legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games for all citizens. No chance, unless he tells his Transport Minister to start building the paths we all need between our communities. There will be no nationwide legacy from 2014 unless we are all walking and cycling across Scotland, through town and countryside, without having to dodge out of the way of traffic.
Dave Morris
Director, Ramblers Scotland
How can princes William and Harry get so much time away from military duties to attend the Olympics, Wimbledon and so on? Always in choice seats, of course. I wonder if they pay full admission price. If serving soldiers and airmen can get so much time off, why are so many being made redundant?
Andrew McCrae
Gourock
As the Olympic Games end, the focus shifts to their legacy (After the gold rush and Ian Bell, News and comment, August 5). A key feature of the Olympics has been the reminder that sport is not all about football and not all played by men. Much of the comment on the legacy has concerned schools, resources and elitism, and what the government can do. But the media have a role, too. Your 20-page sports section last Sunday covered the Olympics well, but still managed seven pages on Scottish football, and this disproportionate concentration on a single sport is usually higher. The run-up to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow could provide a great opportunity to maintain interest in a wider range of sports.
Roger Downie
Glasgow
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