SENIOR Glasgow councillors are to get free passes to the Commonwealth Games.

A total of 12 will be given accreditation to the sporting extravaganza in July.

But the remaining 67 councillors will only get tickets if they applied in the same way as other members of the public.

Council bosses say those who do get accreditation will be expected to be on duty promoting the city.

They will include council leader Gordon Matheson, deputy leader Archie Graham, Lord Provost Sadie Docherty and deputy Lord Provost Gerry Leonard,

The remaining councillors to get front row seats are all executive spokesmen for specific areas of work.

They are Alistair Watson (sustainability and transport), Paul Rooney (City Treasurer), Liz Cameron (jobs and the economy), Malcolm Cunning (social care), Stephen Curran (education), Aileen Colleran (communities), Matt Kerr (personnel) and James Adams (business manager).

The senior councillors will meet key officials who influence decisions on how major world and European sporting events are awarded.

They will also meet members of the Commonwealth Games Federation, the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee as well as sports ministers from countries across the globe.

And they will also welcome representatives of domestic and global businesses who sponsor and support major sporting and cultural events.

The only senior council officials accredited to attend the Games are likely to be chief executive George Black and Glasgow Life chief Bridget McConnell.

vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk