Scotland Welcomes the World

USPA NEWS - The Commonwealth Games will be the biggest sporting occasion in Scottish history, taking place in Glasgow but placing the nation on a global stage and showcasing Scotland as a destination of choice.
(Scotland has hosted the Commonwealth Games twice, both in Edinburgh; in 1970 and 1986.)

Running from 23 July to 3 August 2014, the XX Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event, which takes place every four years and involves 71 teams of athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations competing on behalf of their country. Featuring 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 250 medal events on show, the Games will play host to 4,500 athletes and sell 1,000,000 tickets to spectators from around the world. As well as the opportunity to see some of the world's top sporting talent in action, the Games also offers visitors the opportunity to extend their trip to see what Scotland has to offer.

The host city, Glasgow, is one of Europe's most vibrant, dynamic and stylish cities and in 2012 was named the number one UK destination “˜on the rise´ by the world's largest travel site, TripAdvisor. The city was also named one of the top destinations in the UK, in the 2013 Travellers´ Choice Destinations Awards. With its eclectic mix of trendy hotels, museums and galleries, restaurants, as well as arguably the best shopping experience in the UK outside of London´s west end, there has never been a better time to visit Glasgow.

Visitors to Scotland during the Commonwealth Games can also take advantage of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme, which extends beyond the city and across the country. The jam-packed events programme spanning theatre, dance, music, visual arts comedy, multi-media, and outdoor spectacles will showcase everything Scotland has to offer; from breathtaking scenery, warm hospitality and mouthwatering food and drink, to exciting activities, dramatic history and a vibrant contemporary culture, Scotland is an inspiring destination to visit.

Commonwealth Games facts
Scotland has competed and won medals at every Commonwealth Games since 1930.
Scotland has hosted the Commonwealth Games twice, both in Edinburgh; in 1970 and 1986.
Scotland won its highest medal tally in Edinburgh in 1986 - 33 medals with 3 gold, 12 silver, 18 bronze.
Scotland's most successful team ever in terms of gold medals was in Melbourne in 2006 ““ 29 medals with 11 gold, 7 silver and 11 bronze.
Scotland sent a team of 202 athletes to the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England - the largest team to date - and won 30 medals (six gold, eight silver and 16 bronze).

After the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Scotland is seventh in the all-time medal table, with an total of 356 (91 gold, 104 silver and 161 bronze).
Scotland´s most successful Commonwealth athlete is Allan Wells (a total of four gold, one silver and one bronze in two Games - 1978 & 1982). Shooter Alister Allan has won the most Commonwealth Games medals for Scotland, with three gold, three silver and four bronze medals from 1974 to 1994
Scotland's most successful female Commonwealth Games athlete is swimmer Elenor Gordon who won three gold and 1 bronze from two Games in 1950 and 1954. She was the first ever woman to win Commonwealth gold in 1950 and at the age of 16 the youngest ever Scottish athlete to win gold.

Lawn bowler Willie Wood is the first competitor to have competed in eight Commonwealth Games, from 1974 to 2010, and is Scotland´s oldest competitor - aged 72 during the 2010 Games. Scotland´s youngest ever competitor is diver Grace Reid - aged 14 during the 2010 Games.
Cyclist Ross Edgar was the first athlete to win a full set of medals at a single Games in 2006.
Shooter Jonathan Hammond is the most successful athlete at a single Games with 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze achieved in Delhi 2010.
Fellow shooter Jennifer McIntosh is the most successful female athlete at a single Games winning 2 gold and 1 bronze also in Delhi.

Source: Daren Frankish Media | VisitScotland