By Gary Anderson

The inside of the Kelvin Hall has been transformed into a Uniform and Accreditation Centre in the build-up to Glasgow 2014 ©Glasgow 2014Historic Kelvin Hall in the west end of Glasgow is set to become the central hub for the 15,000-strong workforce to pick up uniform and accreditation for this year's Commonwealth Games.

The B-listed building has been transformed into the Uniform and Accreditation Centre (UAC) for the Games workforce and will see around 50,000 volunteers, staff and contractors come through its doors from today until before Glasgow 2014 is due to open on July 23.

The UAC operation is expected to see around 500 people per day turn up to collect their uniforms and up to 2,000 per day for accreditation on busy days, according to Glasgow 2014 organisers.

The official Games mascot Clyde was on-hand at Kelvin Hall today, along with around 100 volunteers, to mark the start of the process as  and they were joined by the newly formed "Clyde-sider Chorus" choir which gave a live performance and welcomed people to the UAC.

"With the Games only weeks away, this is an incredibly proud moment for us as staff, contractors and volunteers coming together as the workforce which will form Team Glasgow 2014," said Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg.

"We will all look forward to delivering an unforgettable Games this summer.

"The Clyde-siders in particular, though, will be the smiling friendly faces of the Games.

"It was a real treat to have the 'Clyde-sider Chorus' performing live for the very first time and I am sure we will see much more of them throughout the Games.

"The formation of the choir even before we start the Games shows just how special the bonds are among volunteers and what a great experience this will be for them."

Glasgow 2014 mascot Clyde and the Clyde-sider Choir gave a live performance outside the Kelvin Hall ©Glasgow 2014Glasgow 2014 mascot Clyde and the Clyde-sider Chorus choir gave a live performance outside the Kelvin Hall ©Glasgow 2014



The 15,000 Games workforce was whittled down from more than 50,000 applications when Glasgow 2014 organisers launched the volunteer recruitment programme in January 2013.

The official Glasgow 2014 workforce uniform was unveiled at special event in the Emirates Arena in March.

The Glasgow 2014 workforce will have Games time roles ranging from spectator services and press operations to anti-doping, protocol and transport.

"With only a couple of months to go until the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, all the preparations are now coming to fruition," said Councillor Archie Graham, executive member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council.

"The Uniform and Accreditation Centre provides a great example of how close we are, as Glasgow 2014 staff and Clyde-siders pick up their uniforms from today to give a real sense of how Glasgow will look during the Games.

"It is fitting that Kelvin Hall, which hosted so many memorable sporting events over the years, will now play a key role in Glasgow's greatest ever celebration of sport."

Glasgow 2014 volunteers have already begun dishing out uniform and accreditation at the Kelvin Hall today ©Glasgow 2014Glasgow 2014 volunteers have already begun dishing out uniform and accreditation at the Kelvin Hall today ©Glasgow 2014



Opened in 1927, Kelvin Hall has been used as a sporting, music and exhibition centre in the intervening years and was also home to Glasgow's Museum of Transport up until 2010.

The Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena has hosted a range of national and international events in athletics, boxing, badminton and volleyball, while it was also home to the Scottish Rocks basketball outfit for four seasons up until 2012.

It is currently undergoing redevelopment work to turn it into a state-of-the-art sporting and cultural venue by 2016.

For more information on the Glasgow 2014 workforce and volunteering programme click here.

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