The city had been competing against the Nigerian capital Abuja for the right to host the games.

Leading the celebrations in Glasgow, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called the win “a momentous day for Scotland, not just in terms of sporting achievement but also in our bid to inspire a whole generation to live healthier, more physically active lifestyles.”

She continued: We’ll be able to show the world what a vibrant and welcoming place Scotland is, and in return we’ll have the honour of welcoming some of the world’s greatest athletes to this country.

“It’ll also be a huge boost to our economy thanks to all the visitors who will come here. But perhaps more importantly, the Government is determined that the Games will provide a springboard for regeneration in some of our most deprived communities right here in Glasgow, as well as an opportunity to create a lasting sporting legacy for Scotland.”

The former Lord Provost of Glasgow, and chair of Culture and Sport Glasgow, Bailie Liz Cameron said that sport "runs through the veins of Glaswegians" and praised its proud sporting reputation. 

However, like Sturgeon, she too stressed the successful bid was about much more than sporting achievement, saying: “… this isn’t just about 11 days in 2014. In the run up to the Games, we’ll be recruiting 15,000 volunteers, providing them with training and skills they can use for the rest of their lives. And we will continue to regenerate areas of our city, with new homes, businesses and a new sense of ambition, allowing every single Glaswegian to go for gold.”

Congratulations for Glasgow have already begun to pour in from all over the UK.

David Cameron, UK Conservative Party Leader was among the first to offer his, saying: “When I visited Glasgow to back the bid it was clear that to me its friendly and vibrant qualities would make it a perfect location for this international festival of sport. I am delighted that the Commonwealth agrees.”

His colleague Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader added: “This is fantastic news for Scotland and for Glasgow – I know the city and the people will do us proud. It will leave a lasting legacy of inspired youngsters and an even more revitalised city. My congratulations to everyone for compiling a truly excellent bid, one which evidently captured the hearts and minds of delegates.

“Deserving the highest praise are the bid team and all the political and civic leaders in Glasgow and Scotland who have done so much to promote this bid and achieve such a tremendous outcome. In no small part due to their efforts, Scotland now has the chance to shine in front of a global audience.”

One of the strengths behind the Glasgow bid was the projected boost it will have on deprived areas in the city’s East End, with new venues including a National Indoor Sports Arena, a new home for Sportscotland, a velodrome and athlete’s village planned for Dalmarnock and Parkhead.
Andrew Field, deputy chief executive of the SFHA said: “It is good news for Scotland and we would hope that one of the major spin-offs from the Games will be an increased speed of regeneration in some areas.”

John Ferguson, chair of Parkhead Housing Association, added: "This will bring real and long lasting benefits to the Parkhead area. Hopefully the decision to give Glasgow the games will inspire youngsters to get involved in sport and compete in the 2014 games". 

Referring to the health benefits of the games, Maureen Moore, chief executive, ASH Scotland said she hoped the successful bid will provide the “perfect opportunity” to further promote health living messages in Scotland.

She said: The Commonwealth Games, often known as ‘The Friendly Games’, celebrate sport and fitness and I am absolutely delighted that our biggest city has the chance to showcase itself and our country to the world.

“Hosting the Games provides the perfect opportunity for Glasgow to further promote healthy living messages and is also a chance for Glasgow to inspire all its people, but especially the young, to take up sport and fitness and to increase smoking prevention and education messages such as not starting to smoke or giving up.”

She added that hopes Glasgow will follow the example of previous hosts and aim to make the 2014 games smoke-free.

Business leaders have also offered their congratulations. Norman Quirk, chair, Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:"This is fantastic for Glasgow and Scotland.   It was a great bid and Glasgow deserved to win.  Their capability and competence has been recognised by the support from so many countries around the Commonwealth. 
 
“This was down to the quality of the bid, the essential welcoming nature of Scotland as a host country, the event's ability to bring regeneration to the City of Glasgow and the fact that people and organisations from all over Scotland got behind the bid.
 
"Now the work really starts and the potential rewards are huge. The potential health benefits to Scotland are obvious, as is the contribution that will be made to improving the built environment, not just in terms of sports facilities, but also housing and transport.  What is less obvious, perhaps, is the huge impact this will make to Scotland's vital skills agenda.  Creating new jobs and developing a talented pool of labour to help deliver all that is needed for the Games will raise our abilities in construction and regeneration to new heights.
 
"It is these legacy aspects of able people as well as great buildings that is most exciting to business leaders committed to driving forward Scotland's economy. We will all work hard to make this an outstanding success for Glasgow and for Scotland."