Alex Salmond simply responded to a question froma journalist whether he would like to see a Scottish Olympic Team. We know Margo MacDonald dislikes Alex Salmond.

I used to admire Margo when I lived in Scotland. That said, her recent performances on TV have led me to think she has a bit too much of a chip on her shoulder. I do wish she would try to project herself in a less abrasive way. Alex Salmond was only answering a question after all.

That said, I do agree that more funds need to be pumped into Sport in Scotland.

I am a fan of yours and so am a wee bit reluctant to cross you but here goes. Scotland can have an Olympic Team and should have had one years ago.
Let me deal with some Red Herrings first.

Size: Caribbean countries with a fraction of Scotland's size compete with distinction at the Olympics and have done so even before they became Independent.
Facilities:
Scottish athletes in all disciplines would continue to train and develop in England, The USA, in Europe or Australia as they do now.
Independence: The Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos even Monsterrat (pop 7,000) compete as "Nations" at the Olympics even though they are crown colonies.
Puerto Rico and The US Virgin Islands also compete as Nations (sic) although they have like Scotland a form of self government as well as a federal status as part of the USA. The Dutch Islands compete as the Netherlands Antilles and one of them Aruba now has its own Olympic team yet it is still a semi-colony of Holland. Thus the need for Independence is another Red Herring.
The IOC recognizes Sports Nationality rather than political nationality. This is a peculiar IOC ruling to get round the question of colonial status and the two (now three Chinese teams) The PRC Beijing, Taiwan and Hong Kong all of whom have/had Olympic Teams. Thus an Australian may compete for Scotland without giving up his Aussie status but by claiming that his Sports Nationality is Scottish. Scottish sports international Sports brand is of course Scotland all we have to do is formalize this virtual status and create a National Olympic Committee but without the politicians.
We should debate this issue and not deny the idea. We have denied our imagination for too long.
Our youngsters would train harder and think harder if they felt they could get to the Olympics as Scottish team members.
'Now's the time and now's the hour.'

VFC
Carluke