WITH Glasgow gearing up for today’s (Wednesday’s) Commonwealth Games opening ceremony — athletes from across Renfrewshire are into their final preparations for the summer extravaganza.

The city is set to welcome over 6,500 athletes from 71 nations from all corners of the globe and supporters, fans and coaches alike are expected to watch on from the edge of their seats as the raft of international superstars descend on Celtic Park for the curtain raiser.

Runners from Rwanada, boxers from Botswana and swimmers from the Seychelles will combine to put on the biggest sports show Scotland has seen since the 1986 Meadowbank Games, where the likes of Steve Cram and Steve Redgrave took home gold on the world stage.

And, Renfrewshire has aided the cause with seven sports stars selected to represent the nation as part of Team Scotland.

Badminton, athletics, shooting and hockey will feature Renfrewshire competitors with brothers Derek and Callum Hawkins hoping to run themselves into a medal position in the marathon and 10,000m respectively.

The pair have represented Kilbarchan AAC over the years and will be joined by fellow Kilbarchan club runner Hayley Haining who will also compete in the marathon for her second Commonwealth Games outing.

Elsewhere Kilbarchan’s Michael Bremner will take to the field as part of the Scotland hockey side that is aiming to improve on their performance at Delhi 2010 when they came home without a point, whilst Catriona Ralph from Renfrew forms part of the woman’s side who will be targeting a medal when the Games kick-off.

Johnstone will be represented by shooter Alan Ritchie, competing in the 10m air pistol and the 50m pistol competitions, and Erskine youngster Rebekka Findlay will make her international debut in the badminton event which is set to take place at the Emirates Arena.