SCOTTISH Olympian Susan Egelstaff will head up a crack team of sports fanatics to cover the Commonwealth Games.

With 100 days to go until the Opening Ceremony, the Evening Times is proud to introduce our team of specialists who will provide up to the minute analysis on all 17 sports.

Badminton legend Susan, who retired after competing at London 2012, will lead the way with her Inside the Games diary - giving an exclusive insight into the official preparations for Glasgow 2014.

She won Team Bronze at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, took Singles Bronze four years later in Melbourne, and represented Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Susan, 31, said: "It is such an exciting time for Glasgow with the Commonwealth Games only 100 days away. It is so great to be involved and the city has such a great buzz around it already.

"It is nice to see so many people excited about it.

"Because I am retired from sport it is so great to still be involved in the Games in some way."

A further 17 writers will provide detailed information on all the sports including how popular they are in Scotland, the big names coming to Glasgow, their rules and everything else you have ever wanted to know about such diverse pursuits as clay target shooting, judo, and lawn bowls.

Their coverage will join disability activist Julie McElroy's regular Evening Times column on para-sports to provide comprehensive coverage throughout the sporting spectacular.

Coach and dedicated fan Claire Moodie will share her expert insights on artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.

The fully qualified British Gymnastics Club Coach has been teaching youngsters aged between four and 14 for the past 10 years.

Obsessed with gymnastics for many years, she spends hours watching top-level competitions, inspired by the Sydney Olympics in 2000 which she watched 24/7 from her home in Falkirk.

The 40-year-old said she would draw on her contacts in the gymnastics community to give a down to earth flavour of the discipline.

She said: "I love the sport and I want everyone to watch it and appreciate the effort that goes into performing at that level.

"My blog will be a grass roots approach to covering gymnastics in an informal way."

From today, the bloggers will go live on our news website www.eveningtimes.co.uk.

Calum Macdonald, Evening Times' digital editor, said: "Some of our team are already sporting experts, others are going to become very knowledgeable over the next 100 days, but all have been given the challenge to report on and explain some of the disciplines which, come July, everyone in Glasgow will be talking about.

"We'll be adding their special input each day online and, from Monday, we'll be promoting this unique content from the home page of the site, as the Games become an increasingly important part of Glasgow."

Evening Times editor Tony Carlin said: "The Commonwealth Games is an enormous opportunity for Glasgow and the Evening Times aims to offer the very best content in print and online on all that takes place during this historic fortnight.

"Every day the Evening Times will be publishing the most up-to-date pictures and stories from the Games, while our website will be providing real-time content of all the 2014 stories which matter. Our readers deserve the best and that's what we will deliver for Glasgow's Commonwealth Games."

matty.sutton@eveningtimes.co.uk