World 200m breaststroke silver medallist Kirsty Balfour, Commonwealth 10,000m champion Yvonne Murray and double Paralympic swimming champion Andrew Lindsay have all today announced their support for Glasgow’s bid.

With just over six months to go until the decision is announced in Sri Lanka on 9 November, it is a crucial time for the bid and all major supporters to continue to demonstrate the legacy that the event would leave the whole of Scotland and how the sporting landscape would change.

Edinburgh’s Kirsty Balfour, who became the European 200m breaststroke champion in 2006 as well as winning Commonwealth silver, said: “As a proud Scot, I know how patriotic we are and that the whole of Scotland would come out in force to support the Commonwealth Games should they come to Glasgow.

“Clydesdale Bank was fantastic in Melbourne as a supporter of the Scottish team and to now be supporting Glasgow's bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games really demonstrates the commitment the Bank has to supporting sport in Scotland. "

Yvonne Murray has had first hand experience of a Commonwealth Games as the 1994 10,000m gold medallist.

Murray, currently based in Motherwell, said: “"The Commonwealth Games is such an incredible event to be involved in - I have experienced it as a competitor and as a spectator and for Glasgow to host the Games in 2014 would really change the face of sport in Scotland.

“It's great to see Clydesdale Bank is a major supporter of the bid and is backing Scottish sport so strongly, I am proud to work with them to support Glasgow 2014."

Dunfermline’s Andrew Lindsay is one of Britain’s most successful disability swimmers having competed in three Paralympic Games – winning the 100m backstroke gold in Sydney in 2000 in the S7 category and then successfully defending his title four years later in Athens.

Lindsay said: "Disability sport is an integral part of a Commonwealth Games and I know that Glasgow would do a brilliant job creating awareness for the disability events that will take place in 2014.

“I am proud to be a Clydesdale Bank Ambassador for Glasgow's 2014 bid and will use this opportunity to continue to spread the message about disability sport."

Clydesdale Bank was a major supporter of the highly successful 2006 Scottish team who finished sixth in the medals table at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne with 29 medals, including eleven golds.

The Bank is committed to its continued support of the Scottish team at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Championships in Pune, India and through to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and was the first major supporter to be announced for Glasgow’s bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Steve Reid, Head of Retail Banking at Clydesdale Bank said: "With Glasgow at the heart of our business, Clydesdale Bank was delighted to be the first corporate supporter of the City's bid.

“As an established supporter of Scotland's Team, our support for the 2014 bid symbolises our long term commitment to them and our business in Scotland."

Hosting the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow would be an opportunity to inspire thousands of young people to take up and excel at sport and is a chance to showcase modern Scotland to billions of people across the world.

Derek Casey, Glasgow 2014 Bid Director said: “Everyone at Glasgow 2014 is delighted that Clydesdale Bank has engaged these ambassadors to help promote the Bid. Not only does this demonstrate the Bank's commitment to winning for Scotland, it adds three respected athletes to our team.

"Ours will be a Games for the athletes, one where everyone will have the opportunity to have the performance of their lives. These three ambassadors can play a hugely important role in convincing the voters that Glasgow is the ideal host for the Friendly Games."

Further Information:

> Glasgow2014.com