Pupils mark 2014 Games 600-day date

Nov 30 2012

School pupils marked 600 days until the start of the Commonwealth Games by wearing the 2014 tartan on St Andrew's Day.

The opening ceremony will be held at Celtic Park on July 23 2014 and pupils from St Andrew's primary school in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, celebrated the countdown that coincides with Scotland's patron saint's day.

Children wore the official Games tartan that was designed by Aamir Mehmood, a Shawlands Academy pupil whose creation was selected from thousands by young people across Scotland.

David Grevemberg, chief executive of Glasgow 2014, said: "It is fitting this St Andrew's Day that we mark 600 days to go until the opening ceremony of Glasgow and Scotland's Commonwealth Games.

"Our venues are coming to life and looking magnificent and, as we move towards the starting line, it's a fantastic vote of confidence to hear world-class athletes of the calibre of Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis, Oscar Pistorius and so many others starting to express their intention to compete at Glasgow in 2014."

The Games will be the largest sporting and cultural event Scotland will ever host, organisers said.

Sport minister Shona Robison said: "This year has showcased the very best of Scottish sport.

"As 2012 draws to a close, the excitement for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow continues to build and I look forward to seeing what the next 600 days will bring."

One million tickets will be available for the events and about 15,000 volunteers are being sought to become the "friendly face" of the Games.

Eileen Mulrooney, headteacher at St Andrew's primary, said: "Following on the successes of the London 2012 Olympics, sport is continuing to inspire the youngsters here and everyone is getting more and more enthusiastic about the prospect of the best athletes in the Commonwealth coming to compete in Scotland."