Team Scotland Move into Village

The Saltire has been raised at the Commonwealth Games athletes' village as Team Scotland received their official welcome to the site. Glasgow 2014 medal hopefuls watched as the flag was hoisted to the sound of Scotland's national anthem, Flower Of Scotland, on the pipes. The ceremony was the centrepiece of a colourful display by more than 40 young performers with the National Youth Theatre (NYT). Members of Team Scotland admitted that nerves are beginning to kick in as they viewed their temporary home for the Games. Triathlete Marc Austin and judo's Louise Renicks are competing on the first day of the competition on July 24th. Renicks, from Coatbridge, outside Glasgow, said: "They've done a phenomenal job with the village, I'm definitely impressed.'' The 31-year-old will compete in the 52-kilogram category at the SECC on the same day as her sister Kimberley Renicks, 26, who is going for a medal in the 48-kilo event. She said: "You feel that you've prepared, you think that you're in a good place and then the butterflies come.'' Austin, from Scotstoun, Glasgow, said: "Training's been going well, I just need to convert it to the race. I'm pretty nervous but it's going well so far. I'm happy with my form.'' The 20-year-old, who will compete at Strathclyde Country Park, said: "My event is on the first day of the Games but it'll be pretty handy staying here for getting to the venues to watch a lot of other things.'' The performance by the NYT featured around 30 minutes of song and dance and included a water fight, unicycling and the baring of Saltire underwear. Said to be inspired by a "modern Glasgow'', there were several cultural references including an allusion to the traffic cone that regularly sits on top of the Duke of Wellington statue on Royal Exchange Square. Attending the ceremony were Olympic cycling veteran and Glasgow 2014 ambassador Sir Chris Hoy and former Scotland rugby captain Gavin Hastings, recently unveiled as the first chieftain of the athletes' village. Hastings told the crowd: "On behalf of Glasgow 2014, may I welcome you, the Scotland team, to Glasgow. "We are delighted you are staying with us at the athletes' village and we hope it will be a very special experience for you all. "For the next few weeks it will be your home from home.''