GLASGOW 2014 organisers are celebrating a significant coup after Jessica Ennis-Hill vowed to chase gold at next year's Commonwealth Games.
The Olympic heptathlon champion is biggest name so far to state her intention to compete.
The 27-year-old will step up her bid to reach prime form for next month's World Championships when she competes this afternoon at the Anniversary Games in London, days after making a low-key return from long-term injury at Loughborough. The star-studded gathering at the Olympic Stadium comes exactly a year before the Commonwealth Games track and field competitions begin at Hampden.
There have been fears that the Glasgow event's close proximity to the European Athletics Championships might deter some competitors but advance confirmation that one of British sport's most bankable figures plans to take part is a major lift ahead of the opening of ticket sales in three weeks' time.
"I'd love to be at the Commonwealth Games," said Ennis-Hill who took bronze in Melbourne in 2006 but did not compete in Delhi three years ago. "There area few weeks between the Commonwealths and the Europeans so I definitely think it's doable. So that's what I'll be focusing on next year. I'm trying to focus on the now and get this season started but Commonwealth Games are something I'm looking towards."
The 2009 world champion, who will compete in the 100m hurdles and long jump in Stratford today, was thought likely to opt for a single event in Glasgow before concentrating on the defence of the European heptathlon crown she acquired in Barcelona three years ago. However, with her coach Toni Minichiello in apparent agreement, she may double up in her favoured multi-event.
"It's something I've not really done in the past so it's going to be close," Ennis-Hill said. "But my coach seems to think it's doable. We'll have to look at it properly at the end of the season."
She may yet be joined in Glasgow by the double Olympic champion Mo Farah, who has yet to add a Commonwealth medal to his extensive collection after joining Ennis-Hill in skipping Delhi.
However, the Londoner has confirmed he is unlikely to make any firm decision until after his planned marathon debut in his home city next spring.
"Commonwealth Games is huge," Farah said. "I remember the first time I took part in Melbourne. It would be nice to do one again but it depends on how it fits in.
"For me, next year is quite a big challenge because I'm moving up to the marathon so I don't know what's going to happen."
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