With 17 days to go until the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, find out everything you need to know about the 17 sports on show in Glasgow,
With West London having competitors in a number of sports, there are high hopes at this year's events.
Aquatics
Aquatics is flying high at the moment, with record breaking performances seen with each competition.
Two disciplines of aquatics will be a part of the games:
Swimming: The difference between winning and losing is intense, with one kick or stroke deciding the winner in most cases.
It will take place at the Tollcross Aquatic Centre’s 50 metre pool over six days of the Games. Swimming has been a part of the Commonwealth Games since it began in 1930, and is a pivotal part of the Games.
West London: Amelia Maughan
Diving: From the edge of the board, to the entry in to the water - everything counts in this delicate but intense battle for victory. Glasgow 2014’s diving will be held at the reconditioned Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh from the 24th July.
Athletics
With events ranging from the 100m to the marathon, this year’s athletics competition will take place overseven days. You can guarantee drama, speed and endurance when watching the athletics, with big names from Jamaica, England and Australia all competing this year including Mo Farah, who grew up in Hounslow.
This is the sport where west London has most of its competitors
West London: Yamile Adama, Margaret Adeoe, Julia Bleasdale, Ashley Bryant, Mo Farah, Daniel Hooker, Nigel Levine, Nick Torry and Conrad Williams
Badminton
Shuttles will travel at over 300km/h this year at the Commonwealth Games as badminton features on all 11 days of the competition.
Regarded by many as the fastest racquet sport in the world, badminton will bring a dynamic and exciting vibe to the the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.
A potential six gold medals are available with events including men’s and women’s singles and doubles, mixed doubles and a combined mixed team event.
West London: Rajiv Ouseph
Boxing
With 13 weight categories, 13 gold medals available and, you guessed it, 13 champions will be crowned at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Male athletes will compete in 10 weight categories at the SECC Precinct, with each fight lasting a maximum of three rounds. The fighters will battle across eight days of boxing, with a “knockout” format in place, and the finals held at the SSE Hydro.
The 2014 Games is the first time in Commonwealth Games history that women’s boxing will be included as a contest.
Cycling
The 2014 Commonwealth Games brings you seven days of scintillating cycling action, including mountain, road and track biking.
Mountain Bike: The Mountain Bike events will take place at a purpose-build course within Cathkin Braes Country Park. Viewers will enjoy the exhilarating race, with technique and tactics combining with speed and stamina.
Road: The streets of Glasgow will be hit by the exciting event that is Road Racing. Specific road circuit courses will be used, which will take them through the tourist route of Glasgow.
Track: The Chris Hoy Velodrome will be filled with adrenaline as some of the fastest track cyclists in the world take part in the intense competition across twelve events.
West London: Sir Bradley Wiggins
Gymnastics
The gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games 2014 will take our breath away over an exciting eight days. An exhibition of grace, skill and pure strength, the gymnastics will intensify the Games and certainly entertain spectators.
Artistic: Male and female athletes will participate over five days, with individual apparatus medals as well as all-round individual and team medals awarded. Male athletes will compete on six types of apparatus – floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.
Whereas female athletes will compete on only four – vault, uneven bars, balance beams and floor.
Rhythmic: Female athletes alone are allowed to participate in the Rhythmic Gymnastics competition, where four events (hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon) will be contested. Team, individual all-round and individual apparatus medals will be competed for.
Hockey
Hockey will grasp your attention immediately, with teams going for gold from the opening whistle. The physical and energetic game will be a constant thriller, packed with intense action and some great skill shown throughout.
Both men’s and women’s competitions will take place, with 10 nations taking part. The teams will be split into two pools of five during the preliminary round, with the top two teams in each pool progressing to play for the medals.
The new Glasgow National Hockey Centre will host the games, on its two top quality water-based pitches.
West London: Dan Fox and Michael Hoare
Judo
Judo will consist of 14 weight categories, with a possible 14 gold medals available, with one from each category victorious.
Technique, balance and strategic tactics are important, with the sport growing in popularity throughout the Commonwealth Nations. The physicality is obvious, along with its strong ethical code and philosophy.
The simple aim is to score more points than an opponent, by either throwing them to the ground or immobilising them with arm locks, holds or strangles. It is seen to be a relatively modern martial art, and both male and females will participate at the SECC Precinct.
West London: Nekoda Davis, Jan Gosiewski and Ashley McKenzie
Lawn Bowls
Taking place over nine days, the lawn bowls gives a placid and peaceful backdrop as the bowlers focus intensely on the prize.
The competition will take place in one of Glasgow’s most prestigious parks, the pleasant Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre.
West London: John McGuinness
Netball
Twelve nations will compete in the netball competition at the Commonwealth Games in 2014, as the crowd hope for a fast and exciting display of the women’s skill and tactical ability across the 11 days of the event.
Netball is recognised as a true Commonwealth sport where World Championship titles have been in the hands of Commonwealth nations since the beginning.
Rugby Sevens
Sixteen teams will participate in the 2014 Commonwealth Rugby Sevens competition. This invigorating and open game will thrill audiences across the Commonwealth, with its hard hits and last-ditch tries.
Two teams of seven are put on a field with only 14 minutes to win the game, with tries coming from all over the field. Teamwork and dedication is crucial, as a genuine display of raw talent and physical ability is brought to the Commonwealth Games.
Packed audiences will gather at the Ibrox Stadium for two days of relentless competition, with a total of 45 games as the 16 teams battle fiercely.
Shooting
A display of balance, concentration, control and precision is expected to be seen at the Commonwealth Games Shooting competition in 2014.
Clay Target: Moving targets flying in different directions are fired at by Clay Target athletes, with a cloud of powder or dust signifying a direct hit.
Full Bore: This is a test of the athlete’s patience and technique, as they shoot at immobile targets across a number of different distances. It is only contested in the Commonwealth Games, giving the competition its uniqueness.
Pistol and Small Bore: These events require control and precise concentration in order to achieve a high scoring hit. They both involve the athletes firing at stationary targets across distances ranging from 10 to 15 metres.
West London: Sheree Cox
Squash
A highly energetic and thrilling racquet sport, squash requires an overwhelming level of fitness, along with a delicate touch for precise ball management and placement within the specific area of play.
Athletes will compete in individual men’s and women’s singles events and pair up across men’s, women’s and mixed doubles competitions, where the width of the court is increased in order to allow the extra movement needed by four payers.
This sport is traditionally strong within Commonwealth nations, and will take place at Scotstoun Sports Campus.
Table Tennis
Insanely accurate reactions and a high level of skill are required in order to be successful in table tennis. This spectacle really does display the very best athletes of the sport, near the top stage of their career.
The Table Tennis competition will take place at the Scotstoun Sports Campus, where the two main show courts, and eight other competition tables will show the athletes participate in singles and doubles events in the attempt to gain a gold medal.
West London: Tin-Tin Ho
Triathlon
Containing a 1,500 swim, 40km cycle and a 10km run, this is a true test of versatility and endurance.
Some of the world’s most talented athletes will take part in the run, cycle and swim, challenging their fitness levels and overall skill and endurance.
Weightlifting
With 15 different weight categories, from 48kg to 105+kg, this display of gravity-defying brute strength and power will show who has what it takes to bring their best when it counts.
Physical and mental toughness is essential, as the athletes compete in their weight category to record the biggest lift in that specific division, and come away with the gold medal.
Wrestling
Grapples, holds, pins and throws are what it takes to win the wrestling contest between two athletes, with technique, strength and the willingness to take risk all important.
