Scotland's most successful team in the history of the Commonwealth Games has arrived home to a heroes' welcome.
Mr McConnell met the winners as they arrived back in Scotland
Crowds waving saltires and banners greeted the athletes as they touched down at Glasgow Airport after 11 days of competition in Melbourne.
Scotland won a total of 29 medals at the 2006 games - including 11 gold, seven silver and 11 bronze.
First Minister Jack McConnell announced that there were plans for a national celebration of the team's success.
Mr McConnell said the format had not been decided but he outlined the plan to Cabinet on Wednesday morning before heading off to meet the returning athletes.
The first minister also plans a special conference to devise ways of building upon the sporting success in Melbourne.
The Melbourne haul compared with just 15 medals at the last Commonwealth Games four years ago in Manchester.
The athletes were led in to the airport arrivals lounge by double gold medalist Gregor Tait accompanied by the sound of a piper.
Twenty-five-year-old Tait was the star attraction as the athletes arrived.
The swimmer said: "I'm just so proud to be Scottish, it was a pretty amazing feeling."
He arrived at the terminal along with boxer Kenny Anderson, shooter Sheena Sharp and lawn bowlers Alex Marshall and Paul Foster, who all won gold Down Under.
Boxing champion Anderson left his trolley in the aisle and ran to embrace his mother Amanda and uncle, George Winwick, who had come to meet him from the flight.
His mother said she was "incredibly proud" of her son's success.
The athletes retired to the airport's Holiday Inn hotel where they were greeted by Mr McConnell who congratulated them on their medal success.