UP to a million tickets for the ­Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have gone on sale today.

Glasgow-born ambassador for the Games Michael Jamieson signalled the start of the process by diving into the refurbished pool at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

Jamieson, who won an Olympic silver medal for the 200m breaststroke in London last year, trained at Tollcross when he was a boy and will return to compete for Commonwealth gold for Team Scotland next summer.

Young swimmers from Glasgow School of Sport joined the Olympian as he launched the ticketing process.

Glasgow is preparing to welcome 4500 athletes from 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth who will take part in the 11-day event next summer.

Tickets are available for four weeks, until Monday, September 16.

The price of adult tickets starts at £15 and two-thirds of them are less than £25. For the first time at a Commonwealth Games half-price concessions will be available for under 16s.

Sales are expected to be boosted by a new TV advert featuring stars from the London Olympics including Jessica Ennis-Hill with music by top Scots DJ and producer Calvin Harris.

Deputy First Minister Nicola ­Sturgeon said: "This is a chance to be part of the largest ever multi-sport event in Scotland. With affordable ticket prices and concessions for children and over-60s, this is a truly family-friendly Games."

A new survey suggested 68% of people thought the high-profile sporting event would be good for Glasgow and the rest of the country. Less than half of those polled for the Panelbase survey, however, felt the event would inspire more people to get active.

Games organisers say tickets resold online at inflated prices will be cancelled by officials as part of a range of measures to stop black-market touts cashing in on the Glasgow showcase.

Applications for tickets can be made online at glasgow2014.com/tickets from 10am or via postal applications found in the Official Ticketing Guide.

For more information go to Herald Scotland's dedicated Commonwealth Games site.