Glasgow's competition comes from the Nigerian capital Abuja, which is bidding to become the first African city to host the Commonwealth Games.

The final vote will be taken by the 71 Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) member states in Sri Lanka this November.

Glasgow's bid document contains a significant input from the Glasgow 2014 athletes commission, based specifically around making the Games better for the competitors.

Weightlifter Tommy Yule is chairman of that commission and believes the athletes' direct involvement has been a major bonus in Glasgow's bid.

He said: "When I visited southern Africa, I had an opportunity to talk to their Commonwealth Games federations and they sat up and listened because they were talking to an athlete.

"I think it hit home to them more that Glasgow are serious about putting on a fantastic Commonwealth Games.

"With the plans we have got it will be the best Games there have ever been.

"The athletes have been asked to reflect on what has happened at previous Games and make suggestions on how those Games could have improved.''

The athletes commission includes the likes of hammer-thrower Shirley Webb and Olympic champion cyclist Chris Hoy.

Their advice has focused on small but, it believes, key factors in the successful staging of the Games - issues such as the ideal athletes village.

"We were able to give the athletes' view on issues like transport, athletes' living environment and accreditation,'' said Yule.

"For example, in Melbourne they only had plastic chairs and there was nowhere comfortable to sit and just unwind.

"We have contributed a lot to small things within the village just to make everyone's lifestyle better.''

Abuja are involved in a two-horse race with Glasgow after Halifax, the Canadian entrant, withdrew from the race.

The year 2014 would mark the centenary of Nigeria's independence and Abuja's case would also meet the CGF's desire to spread the Games throughout the member states.

The 2010 Games in New Delhi will be only the third time they have been held outside of the UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

But the key criteria for a city's selection remains the quality of event it can deliver, with the CGF anxious to keep building on the successful Games in Kuala Lumpur, Manchester and Melbourne.

President Michael Fennell said: "It is always our desire we could have the Games hosted everywhere. It is always a political debate.

"Having said that, there is no question the Commonwealth Games has been firmly established as a major international sporting event.

"It can only retain that position if we ensure our standards are not compromised. We have to ensure the Games are hosted to the highest possible standards otherwise we will lose that international recognition and the consequences of that are unthinkable.

"The first stage for the bidding cities is to satisfy our requirements. The second stage is: do they have anything else to offer?'

"'Are there any unique elements to the bids?' We will find that out tomorrow.''

Yule believes a successful Glasgow bid, on the back of London hosting the 2012 Olympics, would provide a huge boost to sporting development in Scotland.

"The Commonwealth Games has a lot of minority sports and if we showcase them in a really good way then a lot of young people in Scotland will be attracted to sport and sports they might not have considered,'' he said.