The 26-year-old from Sydney set an Olympic record of 12.35sec when she won at London 2012 and her presence in the Scottish city will help build its reputation as a world-class event.

"With 500 days to go, the Commonwealth Games is firmly marked in my calendar and I'm really looking forward to not only running in Scotland, but also getting a chance to see a bit of the country," said Pearson, who trains on the Gold Coast, who are due to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Pearson will be defending the 100m hurdles title she won at Delhi 2010, where Australia claimed 177 medals, 74 of them gold, as they finished top of the medals table for the sixth consecutive Commonwealth Games.


The last time Australia did not finish top was in 1986, the previous occasion the Games were staged in Scotland, when Edinburgh hosted them.

Then Australia finished third with 121 medals, 40 of them gold, as England came top with 144 medals, 52 of them gold.

Australia are expecting a tough battle to retain their position at Glasgow 2014, which is due to be held between July 23 and August 3, featuring 6,500 athletes from 71 nations and territories to compete in 17 sports.

"Glasgow is already well advanced with its preparations for what is shaping up to be an exciting Commonwealth Games for both the athletes and the city," said Perry Crosswhite, chief executive of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association. 

"With only 500 days to go until the biggest sporting event Scotland has ever hosted, our sports and their athletes also need to be prepared."

Through its "Go Glasgow" programme, the ACGA is investing more than $7 million (£5 million/€5.5 million) of its own funds to support athlete preparation for these Games.


"With the Home Nation athletes coming off such a successful Olympics [at London 2012], we can expect that these Commonwealth Games will be one of the most hotly contested in recent memory," said Crosswhite.