COMMONWEALTH Games gold medallist Steve Frew visited Glasgow School of Sport to launch a scheme to support future stars.

The former gymnast went to Bellahouston to watch young athletes train at the unveiling of a new charity partnership between Glasgow 2014 and the Scottish Commonwealth Games Youth Trust (SCGYT).

Money from the purchase of Team Scotland merchandise will help support young athletes.

Steve, who retired seven years ago, won Scotland's first ever Commonwealth Games gymnastics gold at Manchester 2002.

The 40-year-old, from the West End, said funding for young athletes was crucial. He said: "You have got to get to the gym, you have got to be able to buy kit, and you have got to be able to support your passion in the sport.

"This is the future Team Scotland. It is great to inspire the next generation and to get funding in place to secure that as part of the legacy of 2014.

"The partnership that has been created is an amazing legacy which I think will help future generation of Scots athletes."

The SCGYT has provided scholarship funding for athletes in Commonwealth Games sports and support for specific sports in the junior Commonwealth Championships. In the run up to 2014, it has focused on making small awards to Scottish athletes.

Created in the late 1980s, the trust has so far raised funds largely through donations and activities at Commonwealth Games Scotland annual awards dinners.

It is hoped the new partnership will help expand existing activities and create a Glasgow 2014 Fund to introduce a new Commonwealth-wide programme to bring young Commonwealth athletes and coaches to Scotland and to send young Scottish athletes and coaches to Commonwealth countries to develop their skills.

Michael Cavanagh, Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman, said: "Rather than just focusing on young Scottish athletes, we are going to look for opportunities where we can help athletes from other parts of the Commonwealth.

"For a lot of the Commonwealth athletes, the only time they get any funding and attention is just in advance of a Games.

"We are not going to able to solve that problem across the Commonwealth, but we are going to be looking for a few projects where we can make a real difference."

The Trust supports athletes in their training by providing funding for everything from travel expenses to specialist equipment.

Olympic swimmer Craig Benson, 19, was supported by the Trust, which funded driving lessons so he could attend training sessions without his parents having to drive him.

Mr Cavanagh said: "It is about identifying the young talent where a little bit of extra money can make a real difference. Craig is a great example of someone we gave some support to and we have seen him qualify for the Olympics last year and he will be knocking on the door of winning a medal next year."

Joseph Amouzou, 17, a pupil at Glasgow School of Sport who competes at national level in the triple jump, said Glasgow 2014 would be inspiring for young athletes across Scotland.

He said: "The younger generation have a lot to look up to and a lot to look forward to.

"Just watching the Commonwealth Games will inspire them to become something better than they already are.

"For Scotland and for Glasgow, I think the Games will encourage loads of youngsters to get into sports. People will become determined to become the best and aim to be at the Commonwealth Games themselves."

David Grevemberg, chief executive of Glasgow 2014, said the Games were "proud" to support the Trust.