Salmond's 2014 Games cost pledge

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The first minister has promised tight control of the budget for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Alex Salmond said delivering the event on time and on budget would require "great discipline".

He claimed the estimated £298m budget to stage the games had been the subject of rigorous examination.

The first minister also announced a 100-day plan to set up a limited company to run the event and manage the budget.

The company will be owned by Glasgow City Council, the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland and the Scottish Government.

In a statement at Holyrood, Mr Salmond said: "We can be confident that we will not see the sort of escalating costs that other projects have seen."

He insisted that restricting costs and using existing venues would not diminish the legacy of the games, particularly the regeneration of the Dalmarnock area of Glasgow.

Mr Salmond added: "These games should be held up as an example to our young people that they should not be afraid to try, that they should have confidence in their ability to attain their goals - in whatever field they choose."