GLASGOW'S 15,000-strong army of volunteers for the 2014 Commonwealth Games will be known as Clyde-siders.

 

The name was unveiled as the first batch of volunteers to be accepted were told what roles they would be carrying out at the Games.

Clyde-siders was chosen by the Glasgow 2014 frontrunners, the pre-Games volunteers who conducted all of the volunteer interviews.

Glasgow 2014 received a record-breaking 50,811 applications for the roles, interviews for which will continue until December.

Clarkston man Lindsay Barr, 66, was told he will work as quality assurer in results technology - ensuring the all-important results are accurate and reported on time.

Mr Barr is a retired IT worker who is also a big sports fan - particularly tennis and running.

He said: "I was born and brought up in Glasgow and worked here all my life, so this is an opportunity to give something back to the city that shaped me.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I couldn't miss out and I'm really pleased to have been given such an important role.

"This is the biggest event Glasgow has hosted in my lifetime, and I want to be part of something which showcases our city and allows me to share the thrills and excitement with my grandchildren."

Another volunteer is 50-year-old Kate Hollands from Mount Florida.

She works in events management at the Glasgow School of Art.

She said: "I'll be working in spectator services based at Hampden Park.

"I'm not sure whether I'll be inside the stadium or outside, hopefully a bit of both.

"My partner and my seven-year-old son Noah are thrilled.

"We applied for tickets but missed out, but Noah will get to see some events too as my partner's father was allocated some tickets.

"The athletics at Hampden will be fantastic and I hope I get to see some of the big names in action."

Shona Robison, the Scottish Government's Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, was at yesterday's unveiling along with the volunteers and Games mascot Clyde.

She said: "I think Clyde-siders is a great name that ticks all the boxes.

"Clyde has proved a very popular mascot and the river is at the heart of the city.

"The volunteers are going to be so central to the Games, as we saw at the Olympics.

"Scotland is going to be on the world map in a big way next year with the Games, the referendum, the Ryder Cup and the Homecoming celebrations, and Glasgow is going to play a massive part in that."

Joanne Grant is an active schools co-ordinator with North Lanarkshire Council.

The 33-year-old from Carluke will work in spectator services at the Emirates Arena during the Games.

She said: "I was a sprint hurdler and represented Scotland once when I was younger.

"I always dreamed of taking part in a Commonwealth Games.

"This is the next best thing and I can't wait to get started.

"It will be great for my job too as I can tell the schoolchildren not only about the brilliant sporting events but also about how much fun volunteering can be."

One of the volunteers who carried out interviews with other hopefuls is 45-year-old Charles Atangana from Govan.

He is still waiting to hear what his role will be at the Games.

He said: "I'm very pleased to have been part of the interview process and to see how happy all these volunteers are to be selected. I hope to work in media services at the Games next year."

stef.lach@ heraldandtimes.co.uk