Marathon runners Derek Hawkins, Susan Partridge and Hayley Haining have already taken the first step on the road to qualification after finishing within the time standard at the London Marathon, and all ten lawn bowls places have already been distributed after Scotland won the men's pairs and triples as well as the women's fours at last December's World Championships in Adelaide.

Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) Chief Executive and Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Jon Doig, explained how the selection policy will pan out.

"Competing for Scotland at a Commonwealth Games is a highlight of any athlete's career and the added opportunity to compete at a home Games is a privilege experienced by very few athletes." he said.

"Over the last three Games cycles, Team Scotland has had increasing success, largely as a result of a robust, clear, consistent selection policy and a strong team ethos, backed with excellent high performance support from sportscotland.

"I can confirm that this approach will continue so that each athlete selected will be assured of the support of their team mates in the knowledge that all have deserved the honour of representing Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

"The two aims of the policy are to ensure that Scotland selects a team that performs with distinction in 2014, and has its most successful Games ever in terms of medals won."

The key elements of the process state that a minimum of three athletes will represent Scotland in all sports on the programme, and all host team sport positions will be fulfilled.

Scotland's Commonwealth Games hopefuls launched the "Go Scotland!" campaign

Sport specific selection standards have also been published in conjunction with each sport's governing body, setting clear targets for athletes to achieve in order to earn selection.

Scotland are aiming for their most successful campaign ever at this year's Commonwealth Games, and today saw the launch of "Go Scotland!" campaign which aims to engage the country's people and gain support for their athletes.

Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Michael Cavanagh said: "Today marks the start of the journey to Glasgow 2014 for Scotland's athletes as they strive to meet the agreed selection standards for Team Scotland and we are greatly encouraged by the performances so far.

"The athletes greatly value the support of their family and friends, but to know that they have the additional backing from the Scottish public as a whole, would mean a lot to them, just as it did to Team GB in London last year.

"This is why we have launched this campaign today to encourage everyone across the length and breadth of the country to actively support us in our quest for success in Glasgow and share our journey to the Games."

Sport Minister Shona Robison said: "This is an exciting time for Team Scotland and all Scottish athletes who have been in training for the Games for years - now it's crunch time.

Officials claim that the team has all the ingredients to succeed next year, with outstanding facilities, high standards of coaching and an extra £1 million ($1.5 million/€1.2 million) Scottish Government funding this year for elite sport. Team Scotland will be the strongest and best prepared team possible and I want to see everyone in Scotland get behind all of our athletes and sign up for the Go Scotland! campaign.

"Together we can boost Team Scotland to win gold and deliver the best ever Commonwealth Games."

Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, said: "It's a really exciting time for sport in Scotland and today's launch of 'Go Scotland!' represents another significant milestone on the road to Glasgow.

"The sportscotland institute of sport coaches, experts, and scientists work very closely with Scotland's high performance athletes and, consequently, they are as well prepared as they ever have been going into a Commonwealth Games.

"All of Scotland will be fully behind our athletes, and it will be an incredible experience for them to compete in front of a raucous home crowd."

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