We are looking forward enormously... to starting a process of great sporting events in Scotland over the next few years, with the Children’s Games in 2011, culminating in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the Ryder Cup of 2014. So from all of Scotland, we wish North and South Lanarkshire well ... and we look forward enormously to the Children’s Games of 2011.”
— Rt. Hon. Alex Salmond MSP, First Minister of Scotland
The Lanarkshire bid to host the 2011 International Children's Games has at its heart a determination to make the Games an event that the entire community can support and get involved in.
Work has already gone on over the last 10 years to promote the involvement and success of young Lanarkshire athletes in the International Children's Games but with the launch of the 2011 bid an extensive marketing campaign to raise the profile of the ICG in Lanarkshire also kicked off.
Special supplements about the ICG and the Lanarkshire bid have already been included in newspapers at local, regional and national level in Scotland.
In addition the bid launch secured coverage from both local broadcasters and the
Scottish rock group the Proclaimers have also declared their support for the bid, helping ensure it stays in the public eye.