Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar says, of course, the greatest Commonwealth Games were in Glasgow in 2018!

However the Glasgow MSP praises Scotland's success on the Gold Coast saying their medals were an inspiration.

Mr Sarwar says how inspirational it is to have an athlete in the chamber, adding he means Mairi Gougeon rather than "One Shoe Whittle" who he says struggled to get to his seat for decision time last week!

This of course referring to to the erstwhile Scottish international runner and current Tory MSP who won European Championship Gold on the track with one shoe!

Labour MSP Alex Rowley praises Scotland's 224 athletes and goes on to praise one English athlete in particular.

Mr Rowley highlights Diver Tom Daley, who won his fourth Commonwealth Games gold medal representing England, who used the platrorm of the Gold Coast to say homophobia is a "massive thing within sport" and it is important for LGBT athletes "to be able come out and share their personal stories."

Results in the Gold Coast may mark Scotland's finest Commonwealth Games achievement, according to performance director Mike Whittingham.

Fifty-three medals were won in Glasgow four years ago - nine more than in Australia this time round.

But Whittingham points out that, in 2014, 13 medals were won in judo, which was not included in the Gold Coast.

"You could deduct those 13. That's almost, arguably, the best-ever result by a Scottish team," he said.

It was Scotland's second highest medal tally - and highest at an overseas Games - with nine golds compared to 19 in Glasgow.

• Read more here

Scotland finished Gold Coast 2018 with a total of 44 medals - the nation's second highest tally in Commonwealth Games history.

Marathon runner Robbie Simpson collected bronze on the final day of competition - Scotland's last medal of the Games - but his achievement was overshadowed by countryman Callum Hawkins' collapse while he was leading the race by two minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland's tally is the nation's highest at an overseas Games, just nine short of the record 53 won on home soil at Glasgow 2014, and left them eighth in the final Gold Coast medals table.

The tally breaks down to nine golds, 13 silvers and 22 bronzes, and was 14 medals more than the team's pre-Games target.

Placing on most medals tables are determined by the number of gold medals and the Scots won 19 golds in Glasgow, 11 in Melbourne in 2006 (total 29) and nine in Delhi in 2010 (26).

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott shares the sentiments of the MSPs that preceded him about Scotland's success in the games.

Mr Scott stresses the importance of legacy and the investment in elite sport and participation.

Beyond competition and world class sport, the aim of the Commonwealth Games is to unite countries and territories around the world, says Labour MSP David Stewart.

The Games also offer Scottish athletes a place to shine with Team GB at the Olympics and elsewhere does not always allow, he adds.

Mr Stewart notes many of the athletes started their sport after seeing sportsmen and sportswomen before them.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Brian Whittle says the Commonwealth Games, as a competitor and and a spectator, holds a special place in his heart.

Mr Whittle was no slouch in Commonwealth Games competition himself, having won Silver in the 4 × 400m in 1990.

The Tory MSP mentions the defeat of the "Auld Enemy" in that raise and the bragging rights it gives in "certain company".

Mr Whittle warmly praises the Scottish athletes who won success on the Gold Coast.

Image source, SNS

Sports Minister Aileen Campbell offers her congratulations to the athletes and all those who supported them for their success at the Gold Coast Games.

"The medals didn't stop coming, nor did the happy memories," she states.

She highlights the Games had an equal number of medal events for men and women for the first time.

Sport has a positive and transformative impact, and that is why the Scottish government has protected sportscotland's budget, adds the minister.

We will also continue to work with UK sport to deliver future events, including the 2018 European Championships, she says.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Here is the Public Health and Sport Minister Aileen Campbell's motion.

Image source, bbc

The Scottish government will now lead a debate entitled 'Success of the Commonwealth Games'.

Team Scotalnd made a triumphant return on 17 April 2018.

SNP MSP Fulton Macgregor asks about the role of play and outdoor learning.

The minister says £800,000 has been invested to develop a how-to guide to deliver outdoor education.

In addition, 20% of the new capacity will be outdoor provision she says.

Labour MSP Johann Lamont says parents in Glasgow are facing a doubling in charges for childcare.

Ms Lamont asks if the costs are rising so dramatically to make up for the gap in Scottish government funding.

Image source, bbc

Ms Todd says the government and Cosla have just reached agreement to fully fund an "incredible advance in early childcare".

The minister says it is absolutely for local authorities to decide on charges for wrap around care.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks how many extra staff will be required to deliver the government's childcare expansion.

Ms Todd says up to 11,000 ELC workers will be needed to deliver it.

Labour MSP Mary Fee says there is a £214m difference between what councils have been given and what they said they will need.

She seeks assurances that councils will not have to use core funding to the meet the costs.

Ms Todd insists it is a shared agreement, and councils and the Scottish government will work hard to deliver expansion.

Throughout this, Education Secretary John Swinney can be heard heckling the questioner - leading to a telling off by the presiding officer!