SCOTLAND'S next generation of Commonwealth Games athletes and coaches have been unveiled as part of an exclusive sports programme.

Achieve 2014 will mentor promising young sports stars using the 2014 Games as a springboard for their emerging talent.

Commonwealth Games Scotland and Search Consultancy - Glasgow 2014's official recruitment agency - have worked together to identify athletes from 20 Games sports.

More than 70 athletes and coaches have been announced, with basketball, cycling and netball athletes still to be confirmed.

The athletes and coaches will be given a behind-the-scenes experience of Glasgow 2014, led by experienced mentors, many of whom have competed at past Commonwealth Games.

The programme aims to propel young athletes to sporting success by preparing them for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, the 2017 Youth Games in St Lucia and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.

Selected athletes include 12-year-old Scottish artistic gymnastics champion Louise McColgan and swimmer Craig Bowman, who has just been selected to race at the European Junior Championships.

Heavyweight boxer Connall McDonald, ranked the best 91kg youth boxer in Britain, and World Under-25 Bowls champion Carrie McLean have also been selected.

Emerging coaching talent, including Matthew Carder, from Glasgow, and Elaine Brierly, of Newton Mearns, will also benefit from the programme.

The scheme was first used at the Delhi Games in 2010 and many of the 28 athletes involved then have gone on to great sporting success, including long jumper Jade Nimmo, who has already been selected for Team Scotland for Glasgow 2014.

Programme director Alan Lynn said: "There is a wealth of sporting talent in Scotland and it is crucial that promising young athletes are inspired and motivated, and given every opportunity to succeed.

"The group we have selected are already equipped with sporting skills and determination. Achieve 2014 will harness this and propel them on to even greater heights in the future."

Meanwhile, Glasgow 2014 has appointed Heineken as its official beer and cider provider for the Games.

The arrangement sees the company join the Glasgow 2014 sponsors and will provide beer and cider to spectators at licensed bars housed within official Games' venues.

Heineken beer and Bulmers cider will be available throughout licensed bars in competition venues.

The firm's Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh will produce a limited edition Commonwealth Games 2014 ale, which will be available in pubs throughout the UK.

Heineken's appointment follows on from its role in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and its long-term connection with the UEFA Champions League and Rugby World Cup.

The company owns 300 pubs in Scotland, employing about 2000 people over eight UK sites, including breweries, cider production and offices.

Meanwhile, the 2014 Games chief executive David Grevemberg will deliver the General Teaching Council for Scotland National Lecture tomorrow on the topic of legacy, diversity and inclusion.

The lecture will take a new format this year with schools and organisations involved in the run-up to the Games displaying their work at the event. There will also be special guests.

The event is in the City Chambers at 6pm.

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk