Interest in volunteering for the Commonwealth Games is expected to be huge following the widespread praise that the 70,000 London 2012 Games Makers received during the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer and Glasgow 2014 are hoping for an equally positive display.

Guy Fawkes Day was chosen as the day to begin the search for volunteers as it marks around 15,000 hours to find the 15,000 volunteers to help deliver the largest sporting and cultural event ever hosted in Scotland.


To mark the launch of the search, five hopeful Glasgow 2014 volunteers came together at Hampden Park to encourage people to register their interest in volunteering.

One of the five, Hilary MacGuire (pictured top, second right), explained her reasons for wanting to get involved.

"I work as a PE teacher at Lenzie Academy so sport has always been important to me and being involved as a volunteer at London 2012 was amazing to be so close to the field of play," she said.

"I was part of the athletics equipment team and I was made to feel really appreciated and respected as a Games Maker by both the Olympics organisation and the general public which made it all worthwhile.

"I was rewarded in so many ways, from so many special moments.

"I ended up with the ultimate souvenir: one of the relay batons used in the 4x100m event when the world record was smashed by Jamaica.

"It was similar to being on a rollercoaster with many highs and some lows, usually sore feet and tiredness.

"It was worth it, though, to meet some of the world's most famous athletes.

"Usain Bolt was a very friendly, cheeky, larger-than-life character.

"He gave me a high five after he got that relay world record and third gold medal. Another night to remember was when Team GB claimed three track and field Golds, the Saturday evening that Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah won.

"That was an atmosphere I will never forget and it would be great if the same kind of feeling was generated at Glasgow 2014."


With the Volunteer Centre now open, those looking to volunteer at Glasgow 2014 are encouraged to register their interest but they will have to wait until mid-January before they can officially apply for one of the available roles.

An estimated 25,000 people will then be invited for interview between April and the end of the year before the roles are allocated.

To register your interest in volunteering for Glasgow 2014 click here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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