You can't help but be impressed by the multi-purpose sporting behemoth that is the Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

The world-class sporting venue cost £113m and is the centrepiece of the Glasgow 2014 East Cluster on Glasgow's London Road, the host venue for track cycling and badminton. The Velodrome and big arena get all the attention, but it's really four sports centres in one - there's also a smaller arena space and a full-equipped gym. As well as all that, there's a top-class sauna and spa.

The building itself is stunning, both inside and out, a light, airy and uber-modern testament to Scottish construction and German architecture (the Velodrome was designed by specialist architect Ralph Schuermann). But perhaps the most remarkable thing about the building is the impact it is already making on sport in Glasgow.

Visit the place on any day of the week and you'll encounter a myriad of sporting activity taking place, from elite, club and beginner cyclists doing laps on the smooth Siberian pine track in the Velodrome and the Glasgow Rocks basketball team gearing up for a match, to a class of schoolchildren learning to play netball and local people working out in the gym.

"The legacy of Glasgow 2014 is already here, you can see it all around you," says Councillor Archie Graham, Glasgow City Council's Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games. "People of all backgrounds are taking part in sport, which is exactly what we wanted to happen.

"This place doesn't belong to the Commonwealth Games, it was built for and belongs to the people of Glasgow. It was going to be built regardless of whether we won the Commonwealth bid, but the fact that we did win just makes it even more special.

"Tollcross Pool is another fantastic example of how we can already see the legacy of these Games. My son Colin swims for City of Glasgow and he trains there with elite swimmers like Robbie Renwick and Olympic silver medallist Michael Jamieson. But he also sees young kids who are just learning and adults enjoying a leisure swim.

"There are so many examples of this around the city, such as the Cathkin Braes mountain bike trails, which are already hugely popular and the community engagement work at Hampden Park with Queens Park FC. We always knew the sporting legacy could be incredible, and we're already seeing the evidence every day."

Glasgow was recently named one of the world's top 10 sporting cities, beating the likes of Paris, Tokyo and Madrid, and is already lined up to host a number of big events both before and after the Games. It's this sort of legacy that will help build the city's economy, says Councillor Graham, as well as inspiring young people to get involved in sport and aim high.

"It's about being able to offer sporting activity for all ages, at all levels, that is accessible and affordable," he says. "We already offer free access to all sort of sports like golf, football and tennis, and I speak to lots of people who use and appreciate these things."

"I was in Barcelona recently and so many Spanish people made the point that Glasgow is really raising its game in sporting terms.

"We've been working hard to achieve this for 12 years, but we're not finished yet - we'll keep going."