Glasgow 2014 Begins Search for 15,000 Volunteers

Glasgow 2014 organisers have launched their search for 15, abortion 000 volunteers required to stage the Commonwelath Games.

Hopes are high that Scotland can emulate the highly successful army of volunteers who served at the London Olympics earlier this year.

Games organisers are this week highlighting a survey that shows 7% of adults who responded said they were “very interested” in volunteering for Glasgow 2014, price equating to a potential 180, medicine 000 volunteers.

Research conducted by London games organisers revealed a conversion rate around 25% from those who expressed initial interest who later applied to become volunteers. In Commonwealth Games terms that would reduce the potential number to 45,000.

It is estimated that 15,000 volunteers will be required for the Glasgow games, so demand would likely outstrip supply by more than three to one.

Valerie Mitchell, who is head of the 2014 games workforce, said: “We are very encouraged by this survey as it shows there is an appetite among people in Scotland to go out and volunteer, but, while this is positive news, there is no complacency on our part that we will get the numbers we require.

“We would urge people to visit the website and register their interest now and hope that they begin to think about how they could be involved as a volunteer at Glasgow 2014 and to help make a success of the biggest sporting and cultural event ever to come to Scotland.”

Volunteers will have to give up some of their own time for training and will need to cover travel and accommodation costs, although there will be free public transport around Glasgow venues at Games Time.

The Glasgow 2014 Volunteer Centre was formally opened on Monday as a base for the management of online applications from prospective volunteers. It is expected that the application process itself will begin in mid-January 2013.