Lanarkshire 2011 International Children's Games

Mhairi Hendry, who was picked as the face of the 2011 Lanarkshire International Children's Games, now features in one of Scotland's biggest poster promotions which will sit above the station's main arrivals and departures board until the start of the Games next August.

The 14-year-old, who won a gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2009 Games in Athens, will be seen by a staggering 38 million passengers who pass through the city's main rail station every year.

This is the first time such a promotion has ever been given the go-ahead as the station is an A-listed building and approval had to come from Historic Scotland and Glasgow City Planning. The launch event was filmed for the latest news bulletin on the South Lanarkshire TV YouTube page.

Councillor Jackie Burns, the 2011 Games co-chair, said: "That took us quite a few months to resolve but the fact that Network Rail is sponsoring the project, as well as owning the site, was undoubtedly a major factor in gaining approval.

"There is little doubt that the Central Station site is the biggest and most exciting element of our promotional drive for the 2011 Games."

And Cllr Burns' comments were echoed by fellow co-chair, Cllr Jim Smith, who added: "Working with Station Manager Nick Prag, who has been a superb supporter of the move to use the site for promoting the 2011 Games, we have achieved a result that, frankly, for the 2011 committee is like winning a gold medal."

Councillor Smith said that right from the first approach Nick and Network Rail made it clear they wanted to get involved in the Games.

Nick said: "With hundreds of thousands of passengers passing through Glasgow Central each week, the poster will help ensure word of the Games reaches as wide an audience as possible. We are delighted to have been able to provide our support."

The 2011 games will see 2000 young athletes, coaches and officials from more than 50 countries heading to Lanarkshire for what will be the 45th ICG Games.

And with the Games set to become the focus of international media attention, it will be a chance for Lanarkshire to show its friendly progressive face to the world.

Cllr Burns added: "From the star-studded opening at Fir Park to the closing extravaganza at Strathclyde Park, the Games will be an historic event."

Early indications through the website is already predicting that several thousand international visitors will be coming to Lanarkshire for the Games.

And with the whole of Lanarkshire vying to be at the opening, the 2011 organising committee has said that within the next few weeks they will be announcing details of how to pre-register for tickets to the opening ceremony.

Lanarkshire 2011 gives the area the opportunity to organise cultural programmes and ensure the Games are a truly community led experience. This vision will give people - young and old - the prospect of becoming part of the biggest international event ever held in Lanarkshire.

You can watch a film about Team Lanarkshire getting ready for this year's Games as well as the preparations for Lanarkshire's ICG in 2011 on the South Lanarkshire TV YouTube page.