Hamilton athlete Mhairi Hendry (14) is chosen as the face of the 2011 Lanarkshire International Children’s Games.

Sep 16 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

A YOUNG Hamilton athlete is set to become one of the most recognised youngsters in the country after being selected as the face of the 2011 Lanarkshire International Children’s Games.

Passengers at Glasgow Central Station will see an image of athlete Mhairi Hendry (14) on a 90-foot poster advertising the ICG in August 2011.

One of Scotland’s biggest poster promotions, the image and advertisement will be seen by a staggering 38 million passengers who pass through the city’s main rail station every year.

The massive poster will sit above the station’s main arrivals and departures board until the start of the Games on August 3.

Mhairi, a pupil at Hamilton Grammar, said: “It’s quite good that they chose me out of so many other people so it’s an honour and that’s great.

“I was a little bit embarrassed about the fact there’s a 90ft poster in Glasgow Central with me on it, and my friends asked if I had seen it, but I’m really pleased.”

It’s the first time that such a promotion has been given the go-ahead, as the station is an A-listed building, and approval had to come from Historic Scotland and Glasgow City Planning.

“That took us quite a few months to resolve,” said 2011 Games co-chairman, Councillor Jackie Burns, “but the fact that Network Rail is sponsoring the project, as well as owning the site, was undoubtedly a major factor in gaining approval.

“There is little doubt that the Central Station site is the biggest and most exciting element of our promotional drive for the 2011 Games.”

Mr Burns’ comments were echoed by his fellow co-chairman, Councillor Jim Smith, who said: “Working with station manager Nick Prag, who has been a superb supporter of the move to use the site for promoting the 2011 Games, we have achieved a result that, frankly, for the 2011 committee is like winning a gold medal.”

Nick Prag, station manager for Glasgow Central, said: “With hundreds of thousands of passengers passing through Glasgow Central each week the poster will help ensure word of the Games reaches as wide an audience as possible.

“We are delighted to have been able to provide our support.”

The 2011 Games will see some 2000 young athletes, coaches and officials from over 50 countries head to Lanarkshire for what will be the 45th ICG.

With the Games set to become the focus of international media attention it will be a chance for Lanarkshire to show its friendly progressive face to the world.

Councillor Burns added: “From the star-studded opening at Fir Park to the closing extravaganza at Strathclyde Park, the 2011 International Children’s Games will be an historic event.”

Interest in the official ICG 2011 website indicates that several thousand international visitors are likely to come over for the Games.

And with indications that the whole of Lanarkshire will be vying to be at the opening, the 2011 organising committee has said that within the next few weeks they will be announcing details of how to pre-register for tickets for the opening ceremony.

Lanarkshire 2011 gives the area the opportunity to organise cultural programmes and ensure the Games are a truly community-led experience.

Further information on the Games and volunteer opportunities can be found at; www.icg-lanarkshire2011.com.