The twentieth edition of the Commonwealth Games begins at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on Sunday, as the finest athletes from 53 member states in 71 nations gather at what is affectionately known as ‘the friendly Games’.

In Scotland’s third hosting of the event – following the 1970 and 1986 Games – over 50 gold medals will be on offer as over 1,000 athletes and para-athletes battle it out to become the Commonwealth champion.

Athletics has been a Commonwealth sport since the inaugural edition of the event’s precursor, the 1930 British Empire Games, whilst disability events were introduced at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

After the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the United Kingdom will have staged the event on six occasions with Scotland hosting in 1970, 1986 and 2014, England playing host in 1934 and 2002, and Wales staging the Games in 1958.

England and Wales are two of only six nations to have competed in every Commonwealth Games, with England topping the medals table on seven occasions.

And England are in second place behind Australia on the all-time Commonwealth Games medals table with 1838 medals including 612 gold.

At the time of writing, the start lists were unavailable but a plethora of international stars have already confirmed their participation including:

Jamaica’s triple Olympic and world champion, Usain Bolt in the 4x100m

Kenya’s 800m world record holder, David Rudisha in the 800m

Jamaica’s two-time Olympic 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 4x100m relay

New Zealand’s two-time Olympic champion, Valerie Adams in the shot put

Australia’s Olympic champion Sally Pearson in the 100m hurdles and

Trinidad’s world champion, Jehue Gordon in the 400m hurdles.

In addition, full lists of athletes representing the British Isles nations have been released and some notable names to watch out – with those expected to medal in highlights – for include:

England –

European under23 champion, Adam Gemili in the 100m

European under23 champion, Jodie Williams in the 200m

World junior silver medallist, Jessica Judd in the 800m

Six-time Paralympic champion, David Weir in the T54 1500m

Olympic finalist, Laura Weightman in the 1500m

Double Olympic and world champion, Mo Farah in the 5,000m and 10,000m

Olympic seventh placer, Jo Pavey in the 5,000m

World fifth placer, Will Sharman in the 110m hurdles

Olympic champion, Greg Rutherford in the long jump

2012 world indoor bronze medallist, Shara Proctor in the long jump

European under23 champion, Sophie Hitchon in the hammer

2008 Olympic fourth placer, Goldie Sayers in the javelin.

In total, England have captured 184 gold medals (including seven in the 2010 Games in New Delhi).

Scotland –

Paralympic silver medallist, Libby Clegg in the T12 100m

1:46.85 man Guy Learmonth in the 800m

European champion, Lynsey Sharp in the 800m

European under23 1500m bronze medallist, Laura Muir in the 800m and 1500m

World finalist Chris O’Hare in the 1500m

World tenth placer Susan Partridge in the marathon

World fifth placer, Eilidh Child in the 400m hurdles

World indoor 4x400m silver medallist, Jamie Bowie in the 4x400m

72.79m thrower, Andrew Frost in the hammer.

The home nation has collected 17 gold medals and its last gold was from Yvonne Murray in in the 10,000m in 1994.

Wales –

2011 world champion, Dai Greene in the 400m hurdles

European champion, Rhys Williams in the 400m hurdles

Parlympic champion Aled Sion-Davies in the F42 discus

66.84m man Brett Morse in the discus.

Wales have taken 14 gold medals, most recently courtesy of Dai Greene’s victory in the 400m hurdles in 2010.

Northern Ireland –

Two-time Paralympic 100m and 200m champion, Jason Smyth in the T13 100m

2:16.30 runner, Paul Pollock in the marathon.

Northern Ireland has amassed seven gold medals, with the last arriving in 1986 thanks to 400m hurdler, Philip Beattie.

Jersey –

British discus champion, Zane Duquemin in the discus and shot put

53.44m woman, Shadine Duquemin in the discus.