Team Scotland Launched For Glasgow 2014

Team Scotland's been launched for next year's Commonwealth games in Glasgow.

Team Scotland is hoping to surpass its most successful Games - Melbourne in 2006 - when athletes won 29 medals, including 11 golds. Officials are hopeful that more than 200 athletes will perform on home turf across 17 sports in July next year. 

Among the prospective candidates are boxer Scott Forrest from Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, cyclist Kayleigh Brogan from Paisley, Renfrewshire, and lawn bowls player Paul Foster from Troon, South Ayrshire. 

Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) has launched a campaign - Go Scotland! - to raise the profile of the athletes aiming for selection to the team. 

CGS chairman Michael Cavanagh said: ``Today marks the start of the journey to Glasgow 2014 for Scotland's athletes as they strive to meet the agreed selection standards for Team Scotland and we are greatly encouraged by the performances so far. 

``The athletes greatly value the support of their family and friends, but to know that they have the additional backing from the Scottish public as a whole would mean a lot to them, just as it did to Team GB in London last year. 

``This is why we have launched this campaign today to encourage everyone across the length and breadth of the country to actively support us in our quest for success in Glasgow and share our journey to the Games.'' 

CGS chief executive Jon Doig said:``Competing for Scotland at a Commonwealth Games is a highlight of any athlete's career and the added opportunity to compete at a home games is a privilege experienced by very few athletes.'' 

For more information you can go to www.goscotland.org 

The selection period for athletes wanting to represent Scotland opened at the start of the month and closes on May 15 next year.