Glasgow 2014 in brief

Glasgow 2014 will be the fourth instalment of the Commonwealth Games to be staged in Scotland but the first to take place in Glasgow, the nation's largest city.

Capital city Edinburgh hosted the 1970 and 1986 Games as well as the first Commonwealth Youth Games, which took place in 2000, and there is a sense that the best is yet to come.

History is on England's side when it comes to the Games taking place north of the border. 1986, the last time the Games were hosted in Scotland and coincidentally the last time England topped the medals table, saw legends such as Daley Thompson CBE, Sir Steve Redgrave and Tessa Sanderson CBE secure gold.

England's 2014 team will compete in 17 sports across 11 days between Wednesday July 23rd and Sunday August 3rd, in what will be the largest ever sporting and cultural event ever staged in Scotland.

The Games’ sports programme sees the return of mountain biking and triathlon after an eight year absence, whilst optional favourites diving, gymnastics, judo, shooting, table tennis and wrestling all keep their place from the Delhi 2010 Games.

Women’s boxing makes its Commonwealth Games debut while there are more Para-sport medals than ever up for grabs – 22 across athletics, swimming, powerlifting, track cycling and lawn bowls.

As for where the action takes place, there's a mix of brand new venues and old favourites. The Royal Commonwealth Pool, built for the 1970 Games, will be used once again as a satellite venue. The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Emirates Arena plus the Hydro are brand new for the Games.

Glasgow is a modern and cosmopolitan place with a huge amount to offer the visitor. The city is delighted to have been chosen to host the Games in 2014, and those who have never been to ‘The Dear Green Place’ on the River Clyde can expect an extraordinary welcome in a city renowned for its vibrant lifestyle.

The whole city is behind the event and over 1.7 million Scots registered their support for the Games in Scotland. It all means that Games fans could be set for something very special.