Shona Robinson, the Scottish Sports Minister, has praised Celtic for the club's contributions to charity and the community through the Celtic Foundation, which co-ordinates all Celtic's social, community and charitable activities.

Robinson, who visited Celtic Park on Monday, spoke out in praise of Celtic's initiatives and held them up as an example to other clubs. "The valuable community programmes run by Celtic are to be welcomed," she told the club website. "This is a fantastic example of a football club really working with the local community to make life better for the people who live there and I would encourage other clubs to follow this example, I know many do already.

"We recently launched our 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy plan which aims to ensure that the whole of Scotland benefits from the 2014 Games. This kind of engagement is exactly the sort of activity that will build up interest in sport and physical activity and encouraging more people to adopt healthier lifestyles and to get involved in our national game."

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Celtic have been an institution in Glasgow, which will host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, for more than 120 years. The club's chief executive, Peter Lawwell, said: "We're delighted to welcome the Minister to Celtic Park. We're sure she will be impressed with the club's community activities.

"Celtic was established in 1888 for charitable purposes, to feed the poor of the East End of Glasgow and we have always been much more than a football club. The club is now a major Scottish institution, and more than ever before, we strive to make a difference and uphold the club's important social dimension."

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Robinson particularly looked at the work of two programmes, Celtic v Drugs and the Celtic Well-man's Clinic, an alliance with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.