"Hampden is already known the world-over as the home of Scottish football and we are thrilled that our exciting, innovative and sustainable plans will temporarily transform one of the world's great football stadiums into a fantastic athletics competition venue for the elite athletes of the Commonwealth.

"The Stadium - and the packed crowds inside it - will undoubtedly create a fantastic atmosphere for these great Commonwealth athletes and we look forward to welcoming them to the heart of Hampden, the heart of Glasgow and Scotland and the heart of the Games."

Grevemberg had earlier presented a number of commemorative sods of the Hampden turf to members of the Scotland national football team's supporters known as the Tartan Army.

As a result of the redevelopment for the Games, the Stadium's capacity will be temporarily reduced from 52,000 to 44,000.

Some of the Tartan Army supporters walk away with their prized possessions ©Glasgow 2014

The famous Stadium, home to Scottish League Two side Queens Park Football Club, has undergone a number of facelifts since it was first opened more than a century ago, including a £3 million ($5 million/€3.5 million) Glasgow 2014 funded extension to the North Stand of the ground.

It has played host to a number of famous football matches, including the 1960 European Cup final which saw Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 and a Scotland versus England match in 1937 which saw a European record crowd of 149,415 packed into the terraces.

Hampden has also hosted rugby union, speed skating, boxing and American football amongst other sports, as well as staging music concerts.

"After six years of detailed planning, today is another key date in our calendar," said Hampden Park managing director Peter Dallas.

"Everyone at Hampden is looking forward to assisting with the delivery of the Games which will add another chapter to Hampden's long and proud history.

"Like so many world-class footballers and rock stars before them, the athletes will savour the unique passion and energy created by a full capacity crowd at Hampden."

Wheelchair racer Meggan Dawson-Farrell, who will be hoping to secure a medal in the T54 1500 metres next year was on-hand as the first sod was turned at Hampden.

Megan Dawson-Farrell will be hoping to salute a packed Hampden with a Commonwealth Games medal next year ©Glasgow 2014

After that, the stadium will get ready for the Games which will see branding installed from Glasgow's 2014 official presenting partner of athletics, Virgin Media.

"Scotland is ready for 2014 and is organising what we are determined will be the greatest Games ever," said Scotland's Commonwealth Games Minister Shona Robison.

"As the home of Scottish football, Hampden has a special place in the hearts of many Scots.

"It's fitting that our national stadium will play a key role when Scotland welcomes the world in 2014, when the Commonwealth's best athletes and more than 44,000 spectators will experience for themselves Scotland's legendary Hampden roar."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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