Athletes north of the border will be getting into a Team Scotland mindset early in Commonwealth Games year, after it was announced they will field their own team for the first time in the 23-year history of the Glasgow British Athletics international match at the Emirates Arena.
The Saturday January 25 competition will also be the first international sporting event in Glasgow in 2014.
To celebrate the games returning to Scotland, fans will be able to cheer on the home nation as they go head-to-head with Great Britain and Northern Ireland, USA and a Commonwealth Select team.
Kinross-shire duo Eilidh Child and Laura Muir have already been confirmed by British Athletics as taking part and, while teams won’t be announced until early in the new year, it is expected Scotland will field as strong a team as possible depending on fitness, availability and programmes.
Both hurdler Child and middle-distance runner Muir, as well as Dundee’s Eilish McColgan, have secured selection for the Commonwealth Games.
British Athletics also confirmed that following the successful integration of four para-athletics events into the meet last year, stars from the London 2012 Paralympic Games will once again return to the Emirates Arena in January, and the events will contribute to the overall team points tally.
Stephen Maguire, scottishathletics director of coaching said: “2014 is a big year for the city and the Glasgow British Athletics international match will be the first time that supporters can see a Scottish team in action before the Commonwealth Games.
“This will not only form a part of the event’s history, but it will also show that Scotland has the strength to compete with some of the best athletes in the world.”
British Athletics’ Paralympic head coach Paula Dunn said: “The Paralympic Games in London last year really raised the profile of the sport in this country and we are committed to ensuring that para-athletics continues to capture the hearts and minds of the nation.
“International events such as the Glasgow British Athletics international match are also massively important to the development of our athletes as we prepare for major championships such as the Commonwealth Games and the IPC Europeans in Swansea next year.”