The key moment to lift Hampden Park's turf to start the Commonwealth Games' construction project was overseen by Scots medal hopeful Meggan Dawson-Farrell.
David Grevemberg, chief executive of Glasgow 2014, said: "Today marks another exciting milestone in our journey to the Games with the start of the innovative and exciting transformation of Hampden, Scotland's National Stadium.
"Hampden is already known the world-over as the home of Scottish football and we are thrilled that our exciting, innovative and sustainable plans will temporarily transform one of the world's great football stadiums into a fantastic athletics competition venue for the elite athletes of the Commonwealth."
As part of its temporary transformation, the stadium will be given a dramatic new look to gain the width and length required for anathletics track approved by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
An innovative technical solution will see the playing surface raised by more than six foot on a grid of structural steel stilts.
This will be the first time this technology has been used on this scale to deliver a world-class athletics event.
The arena will also be transformed into a 44,000-seater stadium for next year's event, before returning Hampden to its current 52,000 capacity following the end of the Games.
Work to reconfigure the stadium is expected to be finished by mid-May 2014 with the venue expected to play host to the 2014 Scottish Schools Athletics Championships in June.
During Games time, Hampden will also feature the branding of Glasgow 2014's official presenting partner of athletics, Virgin Media.
Luke Southern, programme director for Glasgow 2014 at Virgin Media, said: "With Hampden Park being at the centre of so much of the activity for Glasgow 2014, we are looking forward to playing a pivotal role there. With eight months to go until Games time, we can't wait to see the transformation of the stadium and help create the best atmosphere Glasgow has ever seen."
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