The 23-year-old from Nottinghamshire, who won two gold medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics before following it up with two bronze medals at London 2012, becomes the second official ambassador for Glasgow 2014 after six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy was named last week.

In her first major role for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Adlington (pictured top) will reveal the highly anticipated mascot, whose identity is being kept a complete secret, when it makes its first public appearance at BBC Scotland's studios in Pacific Quay in Glasgow.

Glasgow 2014 launched a United Kingdom-wide design competition with CBBC's Blue Peter and BBC Radio Scotland's MacAulay and Co for a young person, aged between five and 16, to create the mascot.

At the launch event, the young winner of the competition will be joined Adlington and 150 Glasgow schoolchildren to meet the mascot for the very first time.

"It's a privilege to be involved as an ambassador for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and I'm thrilled to be able to voice my support to the next major sporting event coming to the UK," said Adlington, who won two gold medals in her Commonwealth Games debut at Delhi 2010.

"The huge success of London 2012 will only increase the excitement and interest towards the Games and I can't wait to be a part of the journey to 2014."

Rebecca Adlington poses with her Delhi 2010 400 metres freestyle gold medal

The move also means that Adlington is almost certain to attempt to defend her two Commonwealth Games titles for Team England at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland and Glasgow 2014 chairman Lord Smith admitted he is delighted to have her involved.

"It's wonderful to have Rebecca on board as a Glasgow 2014 Ambassador," he said.

"Rebecca is Great Britain's greatest ever swimmer and she is such a well-known personality across the sporting spectrum.

"Alongside Sir Chris Hoy, Rebecca will promote the Games and help ensure as many people as possible make the most of Scotland's largest ever sporting and cultural event."

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