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Nessie welcomes athletes to Glasgow

If anyone's looking for the Loch Ness Monster, maybe give Glasgow's athletes' village a try.

Nessie seems to have swapped the cool waters of her Scottish lake for the Village Green at the heart of the east end's sprawling Games hub.

A sculpture of the elusive creature watches over the green where athletes can take part in complementary yoga and pilates classes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games village.

The teams are still arriving but some 6800 people will call the village's terraces and units home during the international sporting event.

Kitchen staff are already producing the first of the expected 400,000-odd meals.

Most athletes were snacking on salads and fruit - but a few had snuck a croissant onto their plates. Local battered delicacies can also be arranged.

"We've been asked about the deep-fried Mars Bars," spokesman Andrew McMenamin said.

"It's certainly not a staple but, if an athlete does request it, we'll be happy to do it.

For athletes not training, eating or sleeping, there are three recreational centres, comfy green bean bags, pool tables and a pinball machine to help alleviate performance pressure.

If that doesn't quell the nerves, massages are also available at the site's polyclinic, which is already providing around 180 consultations a day.

There's also a Religion and Belief Centre where athletes can worship in Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Sikh and Hindu rooms, or leave a sticky-noted prayer on a wooden wishing tree.

The Australian women's hockey team might be in trouble, the Indian squad have already requested help from upstairs.

After the Games, one-third of the properties will be put up for sale and the rest freed up for social housing. Until then, Nessie will keep watch over guests from the Games' 71 nations and territories.