40,000 bid to volunteer for 2014 Games

Reporter

Wednesday 19 December 2012

MORE than 40,000 people from every corner of the UK have registered their interest in becoming volunteers at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

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Victoria Weldon

They have already signed up online, ahead of applications opening next month, with those from Scotland leading the way. About 25,000 potential volunteers from Scotland have registered.

The list is topped by Glasgow, followed by Edinburgh, Paisley, Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Falkirk. There have also been high levels of interest from places outwith the central belt, including Aberdeen, Kirkcaldy and Inverness.

While the core of the registrations are from Scotland, the legacy of the London 2012 Olympics Games Makers is evident in the figures. More than one-third of those who signed up online are from England. The volunteering message has reached many across the UK, with interest also noted from people in Wales and Northern Ireland.Outside of London, Birmingham and Newcastle are the highest-ranking English cities in terms of the numbers registering their interest in volunteering.Glasgow 2014 is seeking to recruit up to 15,000 volunteers to help deliver the Games.Interest in Glasgow 2014 from an English audience extends to ticketing, with a rise of about 150% south of the Border in those indicating a wish to buy a ticket at Games time, according to the latest research.Valerie Mitchell, Glasgow 2014 head of Games workforce, said: "While we launched our campaign with the message that we were seeking Scotland's friendliest faces, it was always our intention to attract people from across the United Kingdom."We are delighted the awareness of the many opportunities to volunteer at the Games has clearly extended well beyond Scotland and right across Britain."We have always emphasised that we cannot provide travel or accommodation expenses, so it shows the level of commitment and interest in volunteering."That the core of our registrations were from Scotland is also encouraging as it shows the desire of the people in this country to put on a show and help to deliver a successful Games."Almost one-quarter of a million people applied to be Games Makers for the London Olympics, from which a final 70,000 were selected to carry out countless vital tasks which made the Games possible.Successful applicants attended three training sessions to make sure they were prepared for their roles and also took part in a series of test events.Almost half of those appointed had never volunteered before and all were given the chance to complete a customer service qualification as part of their role.The volunteers received high praise from politicians and officials around the UK for their part in making the Olympics possible, with London organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe claiming they embodied the values of the Games.Speaking after the Olympics, Lord Coe said: "As well as the best athletes, we had the best volunteers, our Games Makers, who dedicated themselves to doing something positive for the world's athletes, for their country, and for the world."Our volunteers have been complete stars – the face of our Games – welcoming visitors with a smile and sending them on their way with a smile."Our Games makers have the right to say 'I made London 2012.' They did."Those looking to register their interest in becoming a volunteer at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games can do so at www.glasgow2014.com/volunteer

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40,000 bid to volunteer for 2014 Games

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