But only 15,000 will get the chance to help out at Glasgow's Commonwealth Games. And 25-year-old Michael McChord has become the first past the post to be picked.

The newlywed, from Lenzie, is the first of 400 frontrunners, the pre-games volunteers, who will help out in the lead up to Scotland's biggest sporting event.

He was so keen to fill the post of Lead 2014 assistant that he rushed back from his honeymoon with wife Jennifer, 26, to be interviewed.

He said: "We were only at Loch Lomond, so I didn't have far to travel, but I did rush back for it.

"It's a great opportunity for me. I was keen to get involved and accept the challenge."

Michael will help organise the partnership programme, which invites every secondary school in Scotland to take part in one of six free conferences at universities across the country, to teach young people to develop leadership skills and eventually hold their own Commowealth festival.

Michael is ideal for the role; he took part in the scheme himself as a student at the University of Stirling.

His mentor, and Glasgow 2014's volunteer coordinator, Rona McIntosh, 28, said: "Michael has been involved from day one of the programme.

"He was then taken on as a student mentor as soon as we formed the partnership for Lead 2014."

Michael added: "It's a step up in the volunteering stakes.I've gone out to Zambia, to teach young people about HIV and Aids. Once you start volunteering, you want to do more."

Rona admitted the Games could not go ahead without an army of volunteers. Next January, applications will be open for the 15,000 games volunteers.

Rona said: "Volunteers are integral for the success of the Games. They're at the heart of it."

For more information and how to apply, visit www.glasgow2014.com

rachel.loxton@ heraldandtimes.co.uk