The games are over but Scotland's race goes on

As the cheers subsided and the music went quiet the 2014 Commonwealth Games were brought to a close.

While it may be the final for the athletes it seems like it may have been just the reinvigorating starting pistol the pro-independence movement was looking for ahead of September's referendum. After the incredible displays of athleticism, the pomp and ceremony and the demonstration that amid much concern otherwise they could pull it off Scottish Nationalism is riding high. 

This has been the problem with the Scottish National Party's campaign from the start though. It has been about flash in the pan soundbites, putting on a good show for the spectators, without really thinking too much about what will happen in the long term.

Now the games are over the future of the new arenas and stadiums is far from certain. Plans have been made and promises given but experience has taught us that until the deal is done there is still much which can go wrong.

The same applies for Alex Salmond's campaign. Hitting out at the Better Together Campaign as being too negative makes for a brilliant spectacle, and may just be right. Without being able to give a positive long term argument to counter it though Mr Salmond is left floundering.

A key debate has been about whether staying in, or leaving, the Union will make the Scots better off. It is a complex debate which relies on numerous economic factors. What proportion of the United Kingdom debt will Scotland be responsible for? Will it be based on per capita income, proportion of funds allocated from Westminster or one of a number of other ways which are being debated? 

Neither side can categorically say and this means that no-one will truly know until long after the votes have been counted which side will come out on top.

Another bone of contention has been the pound. On one side there is Mr Salmond claiming that no matter what politicians in Westminster say Scotland will remain in the sterling union. On the other hand there are Prime Minister and leader of the Conservatives David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Milliband, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osbourne, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and a multitude of Bank of England and City economists saying it will never happen. 

If Mr Salmond is to succeed in his quest he is going to have to do more than rely on vague promises and forcing to people to watch Braveheart and listen to Flower of Scotland until their ears pop.

As has been evidenced in Cyprus and Crimea amongst others the right to self determination is both a strong motivator and a complex issue. It takes serious debate and a clear recognition of all the arguments. That hasn't really started to happen in Scotland and time is running out for it to do so. 

The Commonwealth games have shown that the country can pull of something spectacular when required. What is yet to be seen is if it can handle the more time consuming and necessary day to day mundanity of being an independent state.