Over the past year, the new and extended Commonwealth Games venues have opened to the public.

We have seen ribbons cut at the £113m Emirates Arena and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the squash courts at Scotstoun, Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Cathkin Braes Mountain Bike Trails and Glasgow Green Hockey Centre.

Many of them are already being used on a daily basis by members of the public and have been put through their paces hosting major sporting events.

And the only two still under construction are the £125m Hydro, which is due to open for it's first concert in September, and the ground breaking temporary track at Hampden Stadium which will be installed from November.

So far, the only issue in the millions of pounds worth of construction taking place ahead of the Games was when the Hydro went on fire last month.

But, Ian McKenzie, head of venue and village development at Glasgow 2014, said the information he had was that the opening was on track.

He said: "We are never complacent about these things, the unexpected can happen and it is how we deal with that.

"Fortunately in this case it has been an unfortunate incident but has been well dealt with."

With a year to go until the Games, Ian said excitement was building.

He said: "I feel confident but not complacent.

"I just know that when you are dealing with construction projects you have got to plan them well and we have done. Most of the projects are complete and in good shape so it is giving us a chance to see them in action before the Games.

"To think about us having some of the world's top athletes here, people visiting from all over the world and the home crowd and having a home Games. I love sport so I'm just dying for the whole thing to start."

In the the next year, organisers will be putting in all the temporary infrastructure such as seating, toilets and dining facilities.

Early next year, they will begin building the 2200-seater dining hall and medical centre at the Athletes Village as well as a broadcast centre at the SECC.

Later, more than 20,000 seats will be hired and installed throughout March, April and May 2014.

Meanwhile, interviews are under way to recruit 15,000 volunteers to carry out roles at all the venues and transport links.

Already 8000 out of between 25,000 and 27,000 potential volunteers have been interviewed and the first roles will be awarded from October onwards.

By Games time an extra 1000 employees will have joined the existing 400-strong workforce.

Training courses have also been organised with a mass event for 18,000 people set to take place at the Emirates in March followed by role-specific training for 15,000 volunteers between March and June at Hampden.

Valerie Mitchell, head of Games Workforce for Glasgow 2014, has been working for the organising committee for four years.

She said: "I can't believe how far we have already come and it only is a year to go. Apart from being excited I feel quite organised.

"Everything has gone well with the volunteer programme and the way that it has worked, with more than 50,000 people applying and the process itself, when people are coming in to be interviewed, we are getting fantastic feedback.

"I feel as if we are in a 
really good place in terms of planning, but also really looking forward to next year because I know it is going to ramp up."

matty.sutton@eveningtimes.co.uk