CELEBRATIONS are being held across the city to mark Commonwealth Day as excitement about the 2014 Games builds.

In a special ceremony in George Square today a Commonwealth flag will be raised on the City Chambers at the same time as more than 500 other flag raising ceremonies are held across the UK.

Today marks 135 days until the start of the Games and, with preparations gaining steam, the official Glasgow 2014 Countdown Clock was unveiled at the city's Central Station.

Olympic and Commonwealth swimming star and Glasgow 2014 Ambassador Michael Jamieson was set to join youngsters from St Stephen's Primary School, in Sighthill, at the station for the switch-on of the Longines clock at 11.30am.

Chairman Lord Smith of Kelvin and Charles Villoz, vice president of Longines, were also to attend the event.

During the ceremony in George Square today, Lord Provost Sadie Docherty was to pass on a message of goodwill from the Queen.

She said: "Commonwealth Day has a special significance this year as the city prepares for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, which is shaping up to be the greatest sporting event in our history.

"Our city is proud of its Commonwealth links and we will be welcoming sportsmen and women from 70 Commonwealth nations and territories to compete.

"We are looking forward to strengthening our friend-ships with our Commonwealth cousins and the raising of the Commonwealth flag demon-strates our commitment."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk