AS THE countdown for Glasgow's biggest sporting event reaches 50-days, organisers are adding the finishing touches to venues across the city.

The main structure to be completed is the Athletes' Village dining hall, which will cater for 6500 people during the Common-wealth Games.

Work has started on the 2000-seater hall which will be removed after the event.

The Queen's Baton relay is also hurtling towards the city, and is now in Manchester,

Organisers aim for it to reach the city on June 20 after winding its way up the country.

David Grevemberg, Glasgow 2014 chief executive, said: "With 50 days to go, excite-ment is building as we get closer to the Glasgow 2014 Common-wealth Games.

"There is still more hard work to be done, but, through the support of our Games Partners, our volun-teers and the people of Glasgow and Scotland, we are in a fantastic position.

"Glasgow 2014 will be the largest sporting and cultural event in Scotland's history and promises to be a wonderful celebration that we aim to make the best Commonwealth Games ever.

"Our vision is to create a world-class stage for the elite athletes of the Commonwealth, generate enormous pride in Glasgow and Scotland and leave a lasting legacy."

Team Scotland are also getting geared up for the Commonwealth Games which will hit the city on July 23, with a few remaining teams still to be finalised.

John Doig, chef de mission for Team Scotland said: " We've got a final group of athletes to meet the standards, in the main it has now been completed but there are a couple of spots there for track and field."

Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "As the date of the opening ceremony of July 23 approaches, we can almost touch the Games, and the sense of anticipation grows for so many of us as we wait to give the athletes of the Commonwealth a great Glasgow welcome."

hannah.rodger@ eveningtimes.co.uk