Glasgow will host the Commonwealth Games for the sixth time on British soil since the competition began in 1930.

London was the first UK city to put on the Games in 1934 (it had hosted the inter-Empire Games in 1911) with Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester (2002) following over the years.

Scotland's largest city will be given the chance to shine for the first time with preparations all but complete ahead of the opening ceremony at Celtic Park.

There have been massive changes to the event over the years. There were only 17 national teams at the London Games, (which were called The British Empire Games) in which six sports featured (although the track cycling events were in Manchester).

It was the first time women's events in athletics were held; the previous Games had women's events only in swimming.

The competition had grown in prestige and importance - and the name had changed to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games - by the time it arrived in Wales in 1958.

The sixth Games saw 1,100 athletes from 35 nations descending on Cardiff Arms Park for the opening ceremony.

However, it would be the last time South Africa would compete at the Games until the end of apartheid, returning in 1994. Scotland's capital city beat Christchurch in New Zealand to be the host city in 1970 in what would be a Games of many firsts.

(Lachie Stewart winning the 10,000m at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in 1970)

As well as taking place in Scotland for the first time, it was also the first time metric units, rather than imperial units, were used at events, while electronic photo-finish technology was employed for the first time.

In what was the ninth Games, it was also the first time the Queen attended in her capacity as head of the Commonwealth and that the name 'the British Commonwealth Games' was used (its current title of the Commonwealth Games has been in use since 1978).

The Games were hailed as a success - 42 nations took part in 121 events in nine sports -- and Edinburgh became the first city to host the event twice when it welcomed the Commonwealth to 'Auld Reekie' again 1986.

However, second time around was a very different experience.

The stance on British sporting links with an apartheid-era South Africa at that time led to 32 of the 59 countries eligible to take part boycotting the Games.

Of the 32 who failed to show, it was mainly African, Asian and Caribbean states who opted not to attend. From July 24 to August 2, 26 nations did take part - including the Maldives and Norfolk Island, who made their first appearance at the Games - with 1,662 athletes participating in total.

It was the lowest number of athletes since the 1950 Games and the lack of participation led to a number of financial issues, including a drop in the value of broadcasting rights and a drop in sponsorship with the City of Edinburgh losing approximately £500,000.

There were 10 sports in the second Edinburgh Games - athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, rowing, shooting, weightlifting and wrestling.

By contrast, Manchester in 2002 was considered to be a huge success.

There were 72 participating countries, territories, and Commonwealth regions at an event which was the catalyst for the widespread redevelopment of the east of the city.

It was, prior the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK.

In September 2004, Glasgow was announced as the Scottish candidate city over Edinburgh for the 2014 Games, despite the capital's previous experience.

Halifax, in Canada, dropped out of the running to host the event, leaving the Scots to battle it out with the Nigerian capital, Abuja, for the honour.

The bid proved to be a success when Glasgow was confirmed as the host city in November 2007 - giving Glaswegians the opportunity to step out of the shadow of Edinburgh and enjoy their own big moment.