By Gary Anderson

March 3 - Glasgow 2014 is calling on young people across the UK to Sport their Trainers on Commonwealth Day ©Glasgow 2014Glasgow 2014 organisers are calling on all young fans across the United Kingdom to get out and support the build-up to this year's Commonwealth Games by wearing their trainers on Commonwealth Day next Monday (March 10).

The Sport Your Trainers 2014 campaign will see youngsters from across all the Home Nations wearing their trainers to school and also getting the chance to have their photo taken with a cut-out of official Glasgow 2014 mascot Clyde.

Young people across Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man will take part in the campaign, which is designed to increase awareness and excitement of the Commonwealth Games as the countdown to the start of the Games on July 23 continues.

"Commonwealth Day is a special moment in the calendar and one which gives all us the opportunity to look forward to the Games that Glasgow and Scotland will proudly host for many of the world's top athletes from across the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth," said Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg.

"Sport Your Trainers is a central part of Commonwealth Day and puts the spotlight on the passion we share for sport across the city, across Scotland, the Home Nations and throughout the Commonwealth.

"We're delighted to see Sport Your Trainers embraced through the Home Nations as excitement builds towards our shared sporting moment on the global stage."

The Glasgow 2014 inflatable trainer sits outside the Titanic Museum in Belfast ©Glasgow 2014The Glasgow 2014 inflatable trainer sits outside the Titanic Museum in Belfast ©Glasgow 2014



The initiative, launched in 2011, is also designed to encourage greater physical activity among young people across the UK.

"We have been supporting the Sport Your Trainers campaign over the last few years as an integral part of our preparations for Glasgow 2014," said chairman of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, Robert McVeigh.

"While the Games will provide competition opportunities for Northern Ireland's finest athletes, Sport Your Trainers allows every member of the public to engage with the Games and their fellow citizens of the Commonwealth."

As part of the campaign, pictures of a giant inflatable Glasgow 2014 trainer and mascot Clyde have been taken at sites across the Home Nations, from the top of the Commonwealth Games mountain bike venue at Cathkin Braes, to the Millennium Bridge in the heart of London, the shore line of Jersey and the distinctive Titanic Belfast centre.

Youngsters in Guernsey supporting the Sport Your Trainers campaign run by Glasgow 2014 ©Glasgow 2014Youngsters in Guernsey supporting the Sport Your Trainers campaign run by Glasgow 2014 ©Glasgow 2014



"We are proud to be supporting the Sport Your Trainers campaign here in Guernsey," said Angela Stuart, secretary of the Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association.

"We will be encouraging all islanders to sport their trainers on the 10th of March and will be joining the rest of the nation to build, excite and engage our audience in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games later this year.

"We hope that other islanders will join us in wearing their trainers on the 10th March to celebrate Commonwealth Day."

Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations which takes place on the second Monday in March.

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