OPINION: Games effort is on track for success

THE first and biggest race of the Commonwealth Games is underway right now, the race to get Glasgow ready for the 2014 showpiece.

The preparations are moving into a new phase with many of the venues in the later stages of completion and work starting on the athletes village and transport projects to ensure everything is in place.

Organising an event like the Commonwealth Games is a mammoth task and requires more than just the cash to fund the games, but the planning expertise and skills of the workforce.

Glasgow's Games programme is already on schedule and on budget and any potential risks have been identified and work ongoing to ensure they do not materialise.

This is just one phase of many in a project that will continue long after he athletes have left the arenas and the medals are proudly displayed all around the world.

Glasgow will be left with new facilities to encourage and allow our young people to access sport and develop their talents.

There will be improved transport links, better housing and the best opportunity yet to make regeneration of the east end a success.

There is little more than two years to go and the tremendous effort that has got us this far must continue to ensure Glasgow show the world what it can do.