The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) granted the 48 athletes from eight countries the special dispensation to ensure they did not miss their events even though the deadline for entries had closed on June 11.

The athletes in a variety of unnamed sports are from Australia, the Bahamas, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda. 

But there was a warning from Prince Imran, President of the CGF, that countries that failed to follow the proper entry procedures in future faced being punished.

"The CGF Executive Board took the view that wherever possible athletes should not suffer because of the failings of their administrators," said Prince Imran.

"But we also had to ensure that the extra numbers could be accommodated at this very late stage within the existing complex operations and schedules, and without unfairly impacting on those properly entered.

"We thank the Glasgow Organising Committee for working through the issue at this very busy time to allow us to assist the athletes.

"The CGF and the Organising Committee are committed to these Games being athlete-centred and sport-focussed.

"These athletes have trained for years for the opportunity to take part at Glasgow and we welcome them to these Commonwealth Games and wish them well."

Australia were among the countries that missed last month's entry deadline for Glasgow 2014, meaning they needed special dispensation for some of its athletes to be allowed to compete ©Getty Images

Prince Imran added: "But these situations must be avoided in future.

"There is an on-going review of the sports programme which will culminate at our General Assembly next year in Auckland and the CGF Board will, as part of that process, look at imposing sanctions against those Commonwealth Games Associations who fail to meet important deadlines that impact on the Games' operations and their own athletes."

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