The Scotland Commonwealth Games Organising Committee have just presented their bid to organise the 2014 Games in Glasgow to the Maltese Olympic Committee.

Ms Louise Martin CBE, told a gathering at the Corinthia San Gorg Hotel on Monday evening that Scotland was confident of winning the bid, ahead of rivals Nigeria.

She said the Scots are calling this event The Friendly Games, although they are sure it will be a highly competitive, world-class event.

The partnership of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish government has already provided the support required to organise such an event – a clear set of financial commitments to meet the capital and revenue costs of the Games. “We can guarantee the Games will be a success, because we already have the required financial assurances to meet our obligations,” she said.

The bid will include a completely new Games Village capable of hosting well over 6,000 athletes and officials. It will include around 2,500 new houses and apartments on a secure site.

Ms Martin said the venues posed no problem for the ogranisers. “Seventy per cent of them already exist, the rest will be completely new facilities which should be completed by the end of 2010, that is, four years before the Games, therefore having more than enough opportunities to test them before the Games,” she said.

She insisted that apart from shooting, all the venues will not require a trip of more than 20 minutes from the village, which will be located on a site very close to the River Clyde, which passes through the heart of the city.

The well known Hampden Park, Scotland’s national stadium, will house the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as Athletics and Rugby Sevens.

Tollcross Park Leisure Centre will host swimming, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre will be used for Netball and a range of other indoor sports and Kelvingrove Park will house Lawn Bowls.

The new facilities will include a national indoor sports arena and a national velodrome, both to be completed by 2010.

The already existing venues will all be used for training and/or competition in a range of indoor and outdoor sports.

The bid includes a solemn promise of the highest standards of security for the Games. It describes the city of Glasgow and its surrounding areas as a modern vibrant city – some of Europe’s most exciting and beautiful destinations. It already welcomes four million visitors each year and this is expected to increase significantly in the next few years.