Olympic hopefuls Gregor Tait, Kris Gilchrist and Kirsty Balfour helped to launch the Edinburgh Airport Youth Games last month, the largest-ever games since its launch nine years ago, with 1,600 pupils from nearly 50 schools taking part.

The Youth Games, held on 15 May and supported by sports trust Edinburgh Leisure, gave hundreds of local school children the opportunity to take part in activities and competition in a variety of sports, including athletics, basketball, football, golf, hockey, rugby and tennis.

Double Commonwealth champion Gregor Tait said: "We’ve got the excitement and challenge of Beijing coming up, then the 2012 Olympics in London and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after that.

"This is Scotland’s chance to really promote our sporting talent and it’s great to see so many young people energised by sport at events like this.”

Director of customer services at Edinburgh Leisure, Neil Brown, added: "The ethos of the Games is as much about participation as it is about competition and so, hopefully, the success of today will encourage some of the 1,600-plus participants to take up a new sport or activity - and to adopt a healthier, happier lifestyle."

Scottish rugby players David Callum and Craig Hamilton and Forth One presenter Boogie also supported the Games, joining in the afternoon cool down session.