SCOTS comic Billy Connolly is to be the voice of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games mascot.
He will be unveiled as the latest Glasgow 2014 Ambassador when the official mascot is unveiled today.
Connolly will narrate a special animated film telling the story behind the Glasgow 2014 mascot which will be premiered at the official Mascot launch.
His instantly recognisable voice can already be heard in cinemas worldwide, as the voice of King Fergus in Disney Pixar's animated movie Brave.
He joins fellow Glasgow 2014 Ambassadors Sir Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington to ensure as many people as possible make the most of Scotland's largest ever sporting and cultural event.
Connolly, a Freeman of the City of Glasgow, is a world-famous example of the humour and the friendliness famously associated with Scots.
He said: "I know the people of Glasgow will enjoy the Games immensely, the whole of Scotland will.
"We are a nation that welcomes all visitors with a smiling face, the goodwill of Scots will stand forever, we will always have that."
His first involvement with the Games is narrating an animated film for the launch of the official Glasgow 2014 mascot, which was designed by a school pupil – and believes that involving young people is key to the success of the Games:
"There is nothing more important than getting young people involved, without the youth of today creating a momentum behind an event, nothing is taken forward. By engaging with children in the design of the mascot, a buzz has been created – you can feel the excitement for the Games already."
The comic also believes that Glasgow 2014 will have no problem recruiting up to 15,000 volunteers required to help stage the Games and that the events right across the city will be attended by droves of Glaswegians and Scots.
"Glasgow is a great city of partakers," he said. "We love taking part in everything and for something as big as the Commonwealth Games, people will come out in their droves to spectate and volunteer. Without question Glasgow 2014 will be a huge success. Glaswegians and Scots are great people for turning out and offering support to all individuals and teams – it will be no different in 2014."
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