Former Accie legend and the man largely credited with having brought West back from the dead practices what he preaches
Having faced some of the great players of his generation he turned out on Boxing Day in that gladiatorial spectacle Accies V GHK Oldies match where he faced the likes of Scott Inglis and Kenny Hamilton leading the New Annieslanders to victory


THE HERALD REPORTS

Poor people left behind by sport, says ex-rugby star
A former Scotland rugby player yesterday said the civil service "needs a boot" to help overturn "an unambitious approach" to getting children from poor backgrounds more active.

John Beattie - who has 25 international caps - made the claim to a Holyrood committee investigating the provision of sport across the country.

He told MSPs most people do not do any physical activity in a country that no longer prides itself on sporting success.


It is a "national disgrace" that poor people were being left behind while children from fee-paying schools go on to win medals, he said.

The 51-year-old, who chairs a government-led physical activity review group, said: "I have to be honest here. To my mind I find the civil service very obstructive.

"I find that the reviews we're asked to do are limited, limiting and unambitious.

"I think the targets for PE are unambitious, I think our target for participation in exercise is unambitious. And I've been part of it.

"We should be looking at more than two hours for PE, we should be looking at how on earth we get our population to walk more, cycle more, have fun and exercise. From that we pool our sporting talent.

"And if I have one message, it's that I do think as a country the political profile and the will behind exercise, fun exercise and sport, isn't anything like as high as it should be.

"That's my honest assessment and I think the civil service has to be given a boot."

Mr Beattie, whose son has also played international rugby, acknowledged both the recent success of Edinburgh Olympian Chris Hoy and the hype around the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He said about two-thirds of Scots are "completely inactive".

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said £558m is spent on sport each year, including about £55.8m of National Lottery money."

This article was originally posted on 15-Jan-2009, 08:29 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 15-Jan-2009, 11:52.