“There is no real assessment of the potential financial benefits which will come to Scotland,” said SNP spokesman Michael Matheson. “Until we have that, it is disingenuous of people like Seb Coe to go round saying this will be good for Scotland as well.”

 

Coe met business leaders in Edinburgh and visited the city’s Broomhouse Primary School along with Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen and Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson. Some Olympic football matches are likely to be played north of the Border at Hampden Park, and it is hoped teams may be based in Edinburgh and Glasgow during the competition.

 

 “I am very grateful for the valuable support that we had from Scotland during the bid and am pleased to see that the enthusiasm is still extremely high,” said Coe.

 

“The Games coming to this country is not simply about London, it has to be seen as a UK-wide project. That's why I’m in Scotland today.”

 

Coe said the Games promised to increase levels of participation in sport throughout the UK and offered business opportunities for companies. “This is a massive piece of project management,” he said. “There are going to be direct and indirect contracts for companies regardless of size or where they are.

 

“We will also be rolling out cultural programmes off the back of this community engagement.”

 

Ferguson said Scots companies were already benefiting, there was an opportunity to promote Scottish culture and part of the Olympic football competition was likely to be played here.

 

“The 2012 Games in London has the potential to touch all sectors of Scottish society in the run up to 2012, during the competition and after the Games in the form of a sporting legacy for the whole of the UK,” she said.

 

“The Games will be right on our doorstep and we intend to work with Lord Coe and his team and with leaders across sport, business, tourism, culture and education to ensure that Scotland makes the most of this great opportunity.”