Years of sacrifice, training, and preparation are now behind them.

And over the next 11 days athletes Samantha Kinghorn, Libby Clegg, Guy Learmonth and Chris O’Hare, swimmers Dan Wallace, Jak Scott and Lucy Hope, rugby players Scott Wight, Lee Jones and Stuart Hogg, as well as cyclist Grant Ferguson, netball player Jo Pettitt and hockey player Sarah Robertson will represent their country and the Scottish Borders.

For Selkirk’s Sarah Robertson, who arrived at the Athletes Village last Friday, it is a dream come true. She said: “When we were given the uniforms and training kit it began to sink in. I’m excited now and I know I’m going to get a lot more excited ahead of our matches.” For every one of the Borderers competing at the 20th Commonwealth Games it is their first taste of a multi-sport event.

West Linton’s Chris O’Hare was cruelly overlooked for the 2012 Olympics.

But the 23-year-old is hoping that the Glasgow experience will make up for his disappointment.

O’Hare’s girlfriend, Meredith Burns, is flying in from America along with her parents to support Scotland’s 1500 metres hope at Hampden.

Chris told the Border Telegraph: “All of my family are coming through and this will be Meredith’s parents first time in Scotland.

“Whatever happens I’m sure this will be an occasion we will all remember.” Following tonight’s Opening Ceremony at Celtic Park the action will come thick and fast.

Thursday, July 24: 10.40am - Dan wallace, 400 Metres Freestyle Friday, July 25: 11.50am - Dan Wallace, 400 Metres Individual Medley, 4pm - Sarah Robertson, Scotland v Malaysia, 5pm - Jo Pettitt, Scotland v St Lucia.

Saturday, July 26: 11.30am - Jo Pettitt, Scotland v New Zealand, 12.11pm - Lucy Hope 4 x 200 Metres Freestyle, 1.35pm, 6.02pm and 9.04pm - Stuart Hogg, Scott Wight and Lee Jones, Scotland v New Zealand, Barbados and Canada, respectively.

Sunday, July 27: 9am - Sarah Robertson, Scotland v Australia, 9.30am - Jo Pettitt, Scotland v Jamaica, 1pm - Dan Wallace & Jak Scott, 4 x 200 Metres Freestyle.

Monday, July 28: 10.35am - Libby Clegg, T12 100 Metres, 11.27am - Dan Wallace, 200 Metres Individual Medley, 4pm - Sarah Robertson, Scotland v Wales.

Tuesday, July 29: 11.25am - Samantha Kinghorn, T54 1500 Metres, 1.25pm - Guy Learmonth, 800 Metres, 2.01pm - Grant Ferguson, Mountain Bike Cross Country, 7pm - Jo Pettitt, Scotland v Malawi.

Wednesday, July 30: 9am - Sarah Robertson, Scotland v England, 5pm - Jo Pettitt, Scotland v Northern Ireland.

Friday, August 1: 6pm - Chris O’Hare, 1500 Metres, 7.10pm - Guy Learmonth, 4 x 400 Metres Relay.

Sunday, August 2: 12 Noon - Grant Ferguson, Road Race.