TAXPAYERS ARE facing a “significant financial risk” through the staging of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland’s public services watchdog has warned.

The Scottish Government is guaranteeing 80% of the estimated £298 million of public funding for the sporting festival, which is expected to be attended by more than 6000 athletes and officials.

Auditor general Robert Black, in a report into sports-related funding and participation, said, “In seeking to prevent further calls on public money, the government needs to satisfy itself that (operating company) Glasgow 2014 Ltd costs are under control and expected income will be realised.”

The cost of the 2012 London Olympics has soared from £2.3 billion when the bid was made to an expected £9.3 billion now.

Mr Black’s report, which is to be considered by the Scottish Parliament’s audit committee tomorrow, said that “sound financial management” would be needed over the Commonwealth Games.

He said, “Strong leadership and tight management of the risks will be essential.

“I have asked Audit Scotland to monitor how these risks are being managed.”

The total cost of the 11-day event is expected to come to £373 million.

Ticket sales and other commercial activity is expected to raise £75 million, with the rest being split 80-20 between the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.

Mr Black said “robust” project management was needed to ensure sporting facilities and other infrastructure were in place.

He also warned that the delivery of the lasting legacy from the games, in the shape of new venues, would need an effective plan.

First Minister Alex Salmond has said he wants £150 million in Lottery funding for legacy projects.

The auditor general’s report also looked at current sporting facilities across Scotland. He found £558 million of public money was spent on sport each year.

Councils were responsible for around 90% of this, with sportscotland and Lottery funding contributing the rest.

Mr Black said that the level of participation in sport was declining. In 2001 49% of adults took part in sport at least once a week, but by 2006 this had dropped to 42%.

Participation by younger people also fell short of targets. However, good progress had been made in improving elite athlete performance, with 283 Scots winning medals in international competitions by 2007, against a target of 250.

Scotland has about 7000 public sports facilities.

For spending on sports facilities, parks and open spaces Glasgow tops the list at £100 per resident.

Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth and Kinross were all above-average spenders.

The report found there were no clear links between the national sport strategy and sports investment and recommended that ministers should discuss with local government how the contribution of sport to achieving national outcomes can be recognised and acted on.