Commonwealth Games mascot 'Clyde the thistle' is unveiled by Glasgow 2014 chiefs

Sep 20 2012 By Fraser Wilson

Clyde Image 1

GLASGOW 2014 bosses have unveiled a cheeky - if slightly prickly - mascot for the Commonwealth Games in under two years' time.

Clyde the thistle made his first public appearance in the city this morning at the BBC Scotland headquarters on Pacific Quay.

Lord Smith, Glasgow 2014 chairman, said: "He's very Glasgow isn't he: a bit cheeky and with lots of life."

Clyde made a grand entrance at his unveiling ceremony, zip-sliding through the middle of BBC Scotland HQ to the delight of 150 waiting schoolchildren, then receiving a hug from Olympic and Commonwealth swimmer Rebecca Adlington.

The winning design, by 12-year-old Beth Gilmour from Cumbernauld, was chosen from around 4000 entries.

Organisers said the main criteria was that the mascot should be both Scottish and Glaswegian.

Lenzie Academy pupil Beth, a keen swimmer and badminton player, was only told she had won the UK-wide competition when a crew from children's television show Blue Peter turned up at her house.

"I was really excited, but I was more shocked that I would win something as big. It's just amazing," she said.

"My idea was that he was definitely Scottish and friendly and sporty, which is why he is a thistle, and on my entry I actually drew him running and winking so he's a wee bit cheeky as well.

"It's exactly how I pictured it in real life.

"I'm looking forward to seeing it on the build-up to the Games, on T-shirts and buses."

At the launch, Olympic silver medallist Michael Jamieson said Beth's design is "the perfect mascot for the Games".

The Glasgow-born swimmer said: "Beth's done a fantastic job in designing Clyde and I think he really does represent Glasgow and Scotland. It is one of the faces of the Games and it's seen by so many people on the billboards, posters and at the venues as well.

"Tollcross is the pool I was based at for six or seven years, so it's a familiar environment and surroundings and all these little aspects make a huge difference to performance.

"Fingers crossed I can qualify for the Games and can be in amongst the medals."