Games bid is no walkover - Salmond

Glasgow will find out on Friday if it has beaten the Nigerian capital Abuja to host the event, and Alex Salmond believes nothing can be taken for granted as a final intensive lobbying campaign for votes got under way in Sri Lanka.

Salmond said: "Everybody should understand this has never been a walkover or something that is easy. We are in a real competition for something which is really important and we address it in that way. The best way to approach things is to take nothing for granted, leave no stone unturned and make sure every single delegate is spoken to."

The majority of delegates have now arrived in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, ahead of Friday's announcement.

Scottish and African bid teams began holding a series of engagements and events on Wednesday to persuade the voters why their city should be chosen.

In September, Glasgow emerged as the favourite to land the Games after a glowing report from the evaluation commission of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), but recent media reports have suggested growing support for Abuja.

Salmond also insisted Scotland has put in a positive technical bid but they were also appealing to the "head and the heart".

"We have never been complacent," added the First Minster. "We prefer this to be seen as a real contest, which indeed it is."