THIS year will see Glasgow become the centre of the sporting world as it hosts the Common-wealth Games.

But as well as this international sporting challenge there is a wide range of activity for people of all ages and sizes.

This week we launched our Active 2014 campaign, a year-long push to get people in the Glasgow area moving and improve the health and wellbeing of all.

With our partners Glasgow Life and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde we want to build a lasting legacy in the year the city hosts the Games.

The positive message is that even the smallest of changes in activity and lifestyle can make a huge improvement in health.

That means we want you to get involved - from individuals and groups, old and young, to businesses.

Active 2014 kicked off by giving away 25 pairs of entries to the Bupa Great Women's 10k on May 11.

Throughout the year we will be reporting on events to get people moving and motivate you to join in.

There will be organised events and activities month by month with great giveaways to help you get moving and into shape.

The year starts with training for the Women's 10K and we will be offering the chance to win free running sessions and more free places in the event, as well as time with Glasgow Life instructors to get race ready.

We want to include the whole family and will also focus on sports clubs for children around the city.

Dip your toe in the water with a free swim to see if you can complete 2014 metres in a pool.

If you don't think you can run 10K, there is the chance to join a walking group and take it at a difference pace - it's ideal for older people or anyone with health issues who has to take exercise easy.

Gearing up for the Commonwealth Games, we are giving children the chance to win 50 free spaces at wee sport sites.

Kids can get moving in an Easter bunny hop for toddlers at Pollok Park and there will be school walks organised across the region.

Play days will keep children busy during the school holidays and there will be holiday activity clubs to make sure no-one gets bored in the summer break, as well as the goings on at the Glasgow Schools Street Dance event.

There will also be lots of opportunity to get involved with pedal power. Get on your bike and learn to cycle with quali-fied instructors at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

All ages can have a go at playing keepie uppie at Firhill, in a tie-in with Partick Thistle.

There are plenty of fun events planned for adults, from a giant Zumba-thon to a zombie zoom at Hallowe'en.

We will be looking at how some of those who started 2014 with a dry month got on, and encouraging others to sign up for a dry week later on this year.

The Stoptober anti-smoking campaign will highlight the health bene-fits of living smoke-free.

REMEMBER you don't have to be an athlete or super fit to get involved, Active 2014 is for everyone.

So we will chart the training of a first-time entrant in the Bupa Great Women's 10K and a mara-thon runner aiming to pound the streets of Belfast in the race there in spring.

Along the way there will be tips on how to get started to get in shape yourself.

The first step is the easiest: visit the Evening Times website and enter via the lifestyle section, phone our Active 2014 call centre on 0808 111 2014, text the word Active to 64343 or e-mail info@active2014.org.

We want to hear from you and work together to get Glasgow Active in 2014.

We will target health goals, including basic fitness, obesity, diet and smoking cessation and deliver the message that small changes in activity and lifestyle can make a huge improvement in health.

It all starts with the simplest of steps: leave the car and walk to the shops; if you get the bus to work, get off a stop early and walk the rest of the way and take the stairs rather than the lift.

You will be surprised just how easy it is to get active in 2014 - join us and don't get left behind.

angela.mcmanus@ eveningtimes.co.uk