THE chance of a lifetime - that was the verdict of three local sportspeople on the Commonwealth Games.

Lawn bowler Carrie McLean and badminton players Adam Hall and Holly Newall all took part in the Achieve 2014 program throughout the games - which saw the young promising athletes mentored, using the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as a learning experience and a springboard for their emerging talent.

During the Games the trio had the chance to check out the brand new athletes village and living quarters and then head along to get a taste for various other sports.

The experience was capped off with tickets to the extravaganza of the closing ceremony at Hampden on Sunday night.

They were treated to hits from Lulu, Deacon Blue and Kylie Minogue as the country celebrated the end of a fantastic 11 days of sport.

Mauchline lad Adam said: “The experience was really good. I got to go and see some weightlifting, squash and hockey. These are sports I’ve never got the chance to go and watch before so it was really good. Going to see the weightlifting was really exciting. I loved getting a tour of the athletes village as well.

“The atmosphere at the closing ceremony was amazing and the show was really good.

“I was in awe. It has really given me the spark to try and get there some day.” Carrie is from Catrine but bowls for Auchinleck. She added: “It was amazing, it was a really good experience.

“As part of the scheme we got to go round and see quite a few events. I saw some boxing, hockey, bowls, squash and table tennis.

“It was really amazing to watch and it was really inspiring. It’s one of my main aims now to be there on that stage in four years time.” Adam was joined by fellow badminton players, Holly Newall, who was also part of the Achieve 2014 program and was lucky enough to get a highly sought after seat for the closing ceremony.

The trio of promising stars were not the only locals to show face at the climax of the games.

Cumnock lassie Lorraine McIntosh took to the stage with Deacon Blue to wow the Hampden crowd with a selection of hits as the curtain came down on a momentous couple of weeks for Scottish sport.