With Scotland having already secured the Commonwealth Games for Glasgow and the Ryder Cup for Gleneagles, both in 2014, Mr Salmond said he is confident the country can complete a unique international sporting treble by winning the race to host the 'mini Olympics' in 2011.

He said: "As First Minister of Scotland, I would like to emphasise that, although the instigators of Scotland's bid are North and South Lanarkshire Councils, the bid carries the support and encouragement of the whole country, of the whole nation."

The team behind the Lanarkshire bid — the two councils and the civic pride group New Lanarkshire Limited — are keeping their fingers crossed ahead of the July 11 decision by the ICG committee, which will be announced at the 2008 Games in San Francisco.

North and South Lanarkshire Council leaders Jim McCabe and Eddie McAvoy are delighted the First Minister has thrown his support behind the bid.

In a joint statement, they said: "This has given the team organising the bid a real boost and it is encouraging that the First Minister is so passionate about Lanarkshire winning the Games.

"He clearly understands that the event would deliver a huge boost to both Lanarkshire and to Scotland, especially in terms of the economic spin-offs through tourism and raising the Scottish profile around the world."