The Commonwealth Games baton has been making its way round the world since October last year and yesterday it reached the site of the London Olympics Games.

The exact route it will take through Scotland over the next few weeks is also announced today.

The fact that the baton was taken to the top of the tower at the Olympic Park is a reminder of how successful those games were and a reminder too of the potential of the Glasgow Games next month. London 2012 was a triumph in and out of the sporting arenas: there was Danny Boyle's exciting, witty opening ceremony, there were the extraordinary sporting achievements and all over London, there was the army of volunteers.

The Glasgow Games have shown they can harness good will in much the same way, not least from the thousands who will be carrying the baton over the next few days.

But there are many ways to take part and one of the most exciting is as a spectator. The baton will visit 400 communities along its Scottish route before arriving in Glasgow on July 20. It is an opportunity, like London 2012, to take part in the celebrations, the excitement and the countdown.