SCOTLAND'S sporting stars of the future will be mentored by top talent as part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Former Scotland rugby captain Gavin Hastings has launched the Achieve 2014 programme in Glasgow, which aims to inspire and coach the next generation of medal winners.

The project, developed and managed by Commonwealth Games Scotland, will identify promising young athletes from a range of different Games sports.

They will then be coached in preparation for future com­petitions, including the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, South Pacific; 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in St Lucia, in the Caribbean; and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

The group of 126 athletes will not compete in Glasgow 2014 but will get a behind-the-scenes look at what it is like to be involved.

The Achieve programme was first tried at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Many of the 28 athletes involved then have gone on to greater sporting success, with several tipped for selection for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014, including long jumper Jade Nimmo, who was announced as one of the first 27 athletes selected last week.

The recruitment process for Achieve athletes will be complete by the end of next March.

The programme was officially launched at Scotstoun Stadium and alongside Gavin Hastings were athlete Jade Nimmo, weightlifter Georgina Black and hockey player Michael Bremner - who also took part in the 2010 Achieve programme.

Gavin Hastings said: "We have a wealth of sporting talent in Scotland and it is vital we harness this talent and give our young athletes every opportunity to achieve future sporting success for Scotland.

"The programme is already demonstrating it is meeting its objectives, with Jade being selected for Scotland's 2014 Games team, and both Georgina and Michael pushing for selection.

"These athletes are showing we can raise our sporting levels through investing in talent and providing structured mentoring and support.

"It is fantastic to be an ambassador for the programme because it expands its reach into other sports.

"I hope young athletes across the country exploit this opportunity and deliver future sporting success for Scotland on the world stage."

Programme director Alan Lynn said: "Achieve 2014 will give a group of athletes and their coaches an exclusive behind the scenes experience of a multi-sport games.

"The inaugural programme in Delhi was a great success, with a number of athletes, coaches and mentors hoping to play a significant role for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014."

Achieve 2014 is supported by Search Consultancy, Glasgow 2014's official recruitment agency.

Mr Lynn added: "I believe the knowledge and experience these athletes will gain as part of this programme will be the ideal preparation, enabling them to represent Scotland with distinction at future Commonwealth Games."

linzi.watson@eveningtimes.co.uk