MORE people are getting involved in sport after being inspired by the achievements of athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
New research into the Games' legacy has found that more than one in four Scots are engaging in sporting activities, while 94 per cent plan to take steps towards a more active lifestyle in 2015.
The most popular sports were said to be swimming, cycling and football, while people have also committed to leading a more healthy lifestyle by being more active in their everyday lives.
According to a survey by Legacy 2014, more than half of people have started taking regular walks instead of taking the car, while 38 per cent of people are now using the stairs instead of the lift.
The survey, which provides a snapshot of the legacy of the Games six months after the event began, also named the Opening and Closing ceremonies as the most inspirational moments, followed by the friendly atmosphere as Glasgow played host to visitors from around the world.
Scots were divided on their favourite sporting moments with Ross Murdoch's 200m breaststroke gold medal win, Charlie Flynn's gold medal in boxing's lightweight division and Lynsey Sharp's silver medal win in the 800m topping the list.
Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health said: "Today marks the six month milestone since the start of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and I'm delighted that Scots are still inspired by the Games, which were a fantastic collaboration of sporting and cultural achievements.
"Many people have already made new year's resolutions to be more physically active in 2015 and I will be working hard to increase sports participation and make sure that we get maximum benefit from the legacy of the Games."
A third of those who took part in the survey bought tickets for sporting events and ceremonies, while a quarter visited Glasgow or attended the cultural events staged during the Games.
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: "This survey is further proof of the positive legacy impact of Scotland hosting the Commonwealth Games.
"At sportscotland we used the Glasgow Games to accelerate our plans for a world-class sporting system at every level. Supported by investment from the Scottish Government and National Lottery, we now have a very sophisticated sporting pathway connecting school, club, and performance sport.
"The high performance system is the best it has ever been with the sports, athletes, and coaches working closely with the experts from the sportscotland institute of sport and it produced a record-breaking 53 medals for Team Scotland at Glasgow - an incredible performance on the global stage."
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