Our reputation as a welcoming city, along with our first class facilities, have attracted the organisers of four international events - all of which will be held in Glasgow this month.

The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the jewel in the crown of our 2014 Commonwealth Games venues, hosted the 2013 Junior Track World Championships earlier this month. This past weekend hundreds of pipe bands descended onto Glasgow Green to take part in the World Pipe Band Championships. It's estimated that this event brings around ￡10m of spending to the city, giving a major boost to our shops, hotels and restaurants.

The Emirates Arena will also host the World Youth Netball Championship, followed by the Street Dance World Championships. These large sporting events will allow our city to prepare for the spotlights of the world on us during next year's Commonwealth Games, and show the versatility of these venues.

August can also be a nerve-wracking month for young people - with the dreaded exam results. I am very proud that Glasgow's young people are doing better than ever before in their Standard Grades and Highers.

This year saw an increase in the number of pupils earning five or more Standard Grades at credit level, as well as an increase in S5 and S6 pupils achieving three or more Highers.THESE excellent results have led to a record number of Scots being accepted to Scottish Universities.This year 25,550 Scottish students have accepted a place since the Highers results day.

It is fantastic that our young people recognise the lifetime benefits and opportunities offered by university, and that Scottish students do not have the sky-high tuition fees whichface students at universities south of the border. You should all be proud of your achievements and if things didn't quite go to plan don't worry - exam results won't define you or your life. If there is a will there is a way.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics offer positive news for Scotland's young people, as youth unemployment continues to fall.Scotland is also performing better than the UK across all labour market measures for young people, and the Scottish Government will continue to keenly focus on boosting employment for our young people and ensuring there are opportunities for all.

The State of the Economy Report states that there are growing signs of a global recovery which is starting to take root in 2013.The report also shows that Scotland is outperforming the UK in terms of output, and we all hope that this productivity continues.However, growth across the UK remains fragile, and the Westminster Government continues to tread the path of austerity and cuts rather than economic recovery.Only with the full economic levers of an independent country could we do more to put Scotland on a secure road to recovery.

Establishing such a tight-knit aura of social intimacy requires flawless attention to detail, a quality that radiates from each club manager I meet. As Steve Thompson walks me through the Standard Club’s headquarters near Jackson Boulevard and State Street, pointing out the etched linoleum depiction of the Great Fire, the oxblood leather chairs, and the midcentury light fixtures, the manager’s skill as a master social tactician is obvious.

A place like this is all about the particulars, existing to serve a discerning, well-seasoned clientele who like things a certain way. So Thompson and his staff dance an elegant and complex choreography,A solar bulb that charges up during the day and lights the night when the sun sets. paying attention to everything from gazpacho’s appearance on the menu to the logistics of the coat check in winter. “A truly good event is of course about food and drinks,How does a solar charger work and where would you use a solar charger? but it’s far more about how people move through the space,The world's largest independent online retailer for solar lighting, street lights & outdoor lighting fixtures.A solar lantern uses this sunlight that is abundantly available to charge its batteries through a Solar Panel and gives light in nighttime.” Thompson says. “We treat it like a battle plan.”

It’s this showmanship and attention to detail, Thompson and his staff point out, that create a shield from the hustle of the city center and allow members to feel grounded,We have a great selection of blown glass backyard solar landscape lights and solar garden light. even if it’s only for 30 minutes. Though their affiliation with such a club points to an enjoyment of the finer things, the Standard’s members are also committed to the organization’s credo of devotion to ethical giving. “Those who don’t have these commitments won’t feel at home here, and they probably won’t make it through the process,” Thompson says as we make our way upstairs into the ballroom, which he reveals is a favorite of the Secret Service for its fortresslike feel. (President Obama has staged multiple events here in the past.)

The club is also the setting for plenty of deal brokering such as trial preparation, leadership forums, and client negotiations. Famous sports figures have signed their contracts in the Standard’s meeting rooms, though Thompson and Gina Ciaccio, membership and programming director, remain silent when asked who those athletes might be. It satisfies them to simply describe their prominent members as those who “prefer to fly beneath the radar.”

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