Leading airline Emirates has been officially named as a multimillion-pound sponsor for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
First Minister Alex Salmond made the announcement at Glasgow Airport alongside officials and representatives from Glasgow 2014 and Emirates.
To mark the occasion an aircraft on the afternoon flight to and from the airport was decorated with the Glasgow 2014 official partner logo.
Mr Salmond described Emirates as a "prestigious sponsor" of what would be a "fantastic Commonwealth Games" and praised its reputation for supporting world-class sporting events.
"This announcement is significant, not just because of what it means for the success of the Games but also as it demonstrates the excellent relationship Emirates continues to have with Scotland, after the airline announced an expansion in its Glasgow to Dubai service earlier this year.
"Forming strong, enduring partnerships with blue-chip sponsors such as Emirates will be essential to ensuring that we are able to stage a hugely successful Commonwealth Games in Glasgow of which the entire country can be proud."
Richard Jewsbury, Emirates senior vice-president of commercial operations in Europe and Russia, said: "For the past eight years Emirates has been proud to play a key role in supporting Scotland's international connections. Since 2004 our Glasgow service has carried over 1.7 million passengers and over 46 million kilos of cargo to and from the Middle East and beyond.
"This new multimillion-pound partnership with Glasgow 2014 demonstrates our continued commitment to Scotland and highlights the nation's place on the international sporting stage."
In the run-up to the Games the Dubai-based firm will also assume the role of official airline for the Queen's baton relay, a tradition which goes back to the 1958 Cardiff Games which sees a message from the Queen visit all 71 Commonwealth nations and territories before reaching Glasgow for the start of the event.
Also present at Glasgow Airport was Lord Smith, chair of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee.
He said: "Together, Glasgow 2014 and Emirates create a compelling partnership which recognises the international ambition and scale of the Commonwealth Games taking place in Scotland in 2014.
"These Games create a world-class festival of elite sport and culture but also wider collaborations and further opportunities for Scotland on a global scale."
The airline also won naming rights to the Emirates Arena which houses the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and which will host the track cycling and badminton events in 2014.
Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson said he is delighted with the partnership between Glasgow 2014 and Emirates.
"This partnership illustrates the global reach of the Games and joins the other sponsorship agreements in promising to help deliver a memorable event in 2014," he said.
Emirates has various sporting sponsorship deals in the UK, including with Arsenal FC. The company was also the official airline for Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne 2006 and Delhi 2010.
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